THE BLACK RAT 



in some of the seaports. However, this species being by nature well 

 adapted to a life on board ship, has often been able to re-estabhsh itself in 

 small colonies from overseas, as in Yarmouth, where it was found to be 

 numerous by Mr. A. H. Paterson in 1896. Colonies occur in London 

 about the docks, also in Bristol and Sunderland, and it has long been known 

 in the Channel Islands. 



The Black Rat was plentiful in Scotland well into the nineteenth 

 century, being common at one time in both the Orkneys and 

 Shetlands. 



Compared with the Brown Rat, this species is more active and 

 better adapted for climbing and is said to inhabit by preference the 

 upper parts of houses, while its larger cousins remain below in the 

 drains and cellars. 



The Black Rat is less cunning and suspicious than the other. 

 Both have an evil reputation as spreaders of plague and other diseases. 

 The present species breeds several times each year, from seven to nine 

 young being born at a time in a warm nest made of various materials. 



Mr. Millais considers there are in the British Islands three well- 

 marked races of the so-called * Black Rat,' which he names the 

 Alexandrine Rat (figured in Plate 29), the Northern Alexandrine 

 Rat, i.e. the misnamed ' Old English Black Rat ' (also figured in 

 the Plate), and the Black Alexandrine Rat. The first mentioned he 

 regards " as undoubtedly the true species of which the last named 

 are sub-specific races." 



The colour of the upper parts of the Alexandrine Rat is a dull 

 yellowish brown, shaded along the back with long dark hairs ; the 

 under parts are yellowish white. 



In colour, the * Old Enghsh Black Rat' has the upper parts of 

 a glistering slaty black, the under surface being a leaden grey, while 



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