RAT. 



It has been obfcrved that this country was formt^^rly iii- 

 fefted with two kinds of rats, the houfe-rjX and the ivater- 

 rat ; but that it is believed that the latter, within this lalt 

 half century, hat deftroyed the former. This is probably, 

 however, only imaginary, Ance it is well known that the 

 houfe-rats are frequently brought, in great abundance, into 

 the different fea-ports of the kingdom, in corn, and other 

 veilels. It feems not improbable, but that thefe different 

 varieties of rats may intercopulate, and by that means the 

 latter become houfe-rats, as there is confiderable diverfity in 

 the colours of the houfe-rats, fome approaching to nearly 

 black, which is the natural colour of the water-rat, while 

 the genuine houfe-rat is always of adarkifh or dapple brown. 

 In their habits thty have fome circumftanccs in which they 

 agree, as in that of making burrows in the ground ; but 

 the water-rat is capable of living much in the water, and of 

 feeding on iifli and other aquatic animals, while the houfe- 

 rat mollly lives upon grain, and other produce of that kind. 

 The water-rats are alio fald, by Dr. Darwin, to cat the fo- 

 liage as well as the feeds and fruits of vegetables, as he has 

 feen a young rat of this kind devour a large leaf of the 

 water-plantain (idifma plantago). They likewife, as well 

 as the houfe-rats, are deftruftive of young animals, fuch as 

 duckhugs, goflings, chickens, and rabbits. But the great 

 mifchitf which the water-rats produce, is in feeding on, and 

 deftroying, the roots of a great variety of vegetables, in 

 their innumerable burrows. The above writer remembers 

 to have feen fome new-planted apple-trees taken out of the 

 ground with nearly the whole of their fmaller roots eaten, 

 and the larger ones peeled by them. With the houfe kind, 

 they are, likewife, extremely deftruftive of the food of 

 poultry, and fwine, and of courfe are highly detrimental 

 near waters. It is remarked by the above able writer, that 

 as thefe animals, hke the dog, are of a lafcivious nature, 

 and, as fome materials have a ftrong fcent, refcmbling, per- 

 haps, that of their venereal orgafm, they are liable to be 

 attrafted by fuch fmells, as dogs are, on the fame account, 

 he fuppofes, inclined to roll themfelves in putrid carrion ; 

 and male cats- to eat marum valerian, and cat-mint. It is of 

 this principle that rat-catchers avail themfelves, and by in- 

 dulging the propenfity, deceive them to their deftruftion, 

 by blending with their favourite foods different ftrong- 

 fcented fubttances, fuch as the effential oil of rhodium, or 

 mulk, with the poifonous powders of ftrychnos nux vomica, 

 or of delphinium ftavifagria, or perhaps of arfenic. 



The firll ftep taken by rat-catchers, in order to clear a 

 houfe, &c. of thofe vermin, is to allure them all together, 

 to one proper place, before they attempt to deftroy them ; 

 for there is fuch an inltinftive caution in thefe animals, accom- 

 panied with a furprifing fagacity in difcovering any caufe of 

 danger, that if any of them be hurt, or purfued, in an un- 

 ufual manner, the reft take the alarm, and become fo (hy 

 and wary, that they elude all the devices and ftratagems of 

 their purfuers for fome time after. The place where the 

 rats are to be alfembled, (hould be fome clofet, or fmall room, 

 into which all the openings, but one or two, may be fe- 

 cured ; and this place Ibould be, as near as may be, in the 

 middle of the houfe, or buildings. It is the praftice, there- 

 fore, to attempt to bring them all together in fome fuch 

 place before any attempt be made to take them ; and even 

 then to avoid any violence, hurt, or fright to them, before 

 the whole be in lii" pi v..r of the operator. In refpeft to 

 the means ufed to allure ;hfm to one place, they are various ; 

 one of thole moft eafily and efScacioufly praftifed is the 

 trailing (ome piece of their moll favourite food, which 

 ihould be of the kind that has tne ftrongeft fcent, fuch as 



toafted chcefe, or broiled red-herring, from the holes or en- 

 trances to their acccfl'cs in every part of the houfe, or con- 

 tiguous buildings, whence it is intended to allure tfiem. At 

 the extremities, and in diflercnt parts of the courfe of this 

 trailed traft, fmall quantities of meal, or any other kind of 

 their food, (hould be laid, to bring the greater number into 

 the tracks, and to encauragc them to purfue it to the centre 

 place, where they are intended to be taken ; at that place, 

 where time admits of it, a more plentiful repall is laid for 

 them, and the trailing repeated for two or three nights. 

 But befides this trailing, and way-baiting, fome of the moit 

 expert of the rat-catchers have a (horter, and, perhaps, more 

 effectual method of bringing them together, which is, the 

 calling them, by making fuch a kind of w liftling noife as 

 rcfembles their own call, and by this means, with the affift- 

 ance of the way-baits, they call them out of their holes, and 

 lead them to the repail prepared for them at the place de- 

 figned for taking them. But this is much more difficult to 

 be praftifed than the art of trailing ; for the learning the 

 exadt notes, or cries, of any kind uf beafts or birds, fo as 

 to deceive them, is a peculiar talent, not eafily attained to 

 in other cafes. 



And in praftifing either of thefe methods great caution 

 muft be ufed by the operator to fupprefs, and prevent, the 

 fcent of his feet and body from being perceived ; which is 

 done by overpowering that fcent by others of a ftronger na- 

 ture. In order to this the feet are to be covered with cloths 

 rubbed over with affafoetida, or other ftrong fmelling fub- 

 ftanccs ; and even oil oi rhodium is fometimes ufed for this 

 purpofe, but fparingly, on account of its dearnefs, though 

 it has a very alluring, as well as difguifing effeft. If this 

 caution of avoiding the fcent of the operator's feet, near 

 the track, and in the place where the rats are propofed to be 

 collefted, be not properly obferved, it will very much ob- 

 ftruft the fucccfs of the attempt to take them ; for they are 

 very ftiy of coming where the fcent of human feet lies very 

 frelh, and intimates, to their fagacious inftinft, the pre- 

 fence of human creatures, whom they naturally dread. To 

 the above-mentioned means of alluring by traihng, way- 

 baiting, and calling, is added another of very material effi- 

 cacy, which is the ufe of oil of i-hodium, which, like the 

 marum fyriacum in the cafe of cats, has a very extraordi- 

 nary fafcinating power on thefe animals. The oil is ex- 

 tremely dear, and therefore very fparingly ufed. It is ex- 

 haled in a fmall quantity in the place, and at the entrance of 

 it, where the rats are intended to be taken, particularly at 

 the time when they are to be laft brought together in order 

 to their deftruftion ; and it is ufed alfo, by fmearing it on 

 the furface of fome of the implements ufed in taking them, 

 by the method before defcribed, and the effeft it has in taking 

 off their caution and dread, by the delight they appear to 

 have in it, is very extraordinary. 



It is ufual, likewife, for the operator to difguife his 

 figure as well as fcent, which is done by putting on a fort of 

 gown or cloak, of one colour, that hides the natural form, 

 and makes him appear like a port, or fuch inanimate thing ; 

 which habit muft hkewife be fcented as above, to over- 

 power the fmell of his perfon ; and befides this he is to avoid 

 all motion, till he has fecured his point of having all the rats 

 in his power. When the rats are thus enticed and collefted, 

 where time is afforded, and the whole in any houfe or out- 

 buildings are intended to be cleared away, they are fuffered 

 to regale on what they moft like, which is ready prepared 

 for them ; and then to go away quietly for two or three 

 nights ; by which means thofe which are not allured the 

 firft night are brought afterwards, either by their fellows, or 



OI the 



