DAMAGE TO FRUITS. 25 



The brown rat is less of a climber than either the roof rat or the 

 black rat; but in warm countries all three climb trees to a greater 

 extent than in the north. Indeed, it is probable that one of the 

 chief reasons why the brown rat has not been able to displace the 

 others within the Tropics lies in the fact that they are more expert 

 climbers. Both the roof rat and the black rat often nest in trees in 

 hot countries, and as. a matter of course feed much upon fruits. 

 During the present attempts to abate the rat nuisance in Honolulu, 

 Hawaii, about one-third of the rats taken have been shot from trees. 

 While all four of the cosmopolitan species of Mus are common in 

 Hawaii, those shot are chiefly the roof rat and the black rat. 



Among the tropical fruits eaten by rats are oranges, bananas, figs, 

 dates, cocoanuts, and especially the pods of cacao, from which choco- 

 late is manufactured. 



Attempts to grow dates in the southwestern United States have 

 shown that thus far a native rat (Sigmodon) is the worst enemy of 

 the date in America, but it is probable that the introduced rat will 

 soon find its way into the plantations, displace the native species, 

 and prove a more serious foe. 



In many lands rats have proved to be enemies of the coffee-growing 

 industry. A correspondent of The Field (London) writes to that 

 journal as follows: "A coffee plantation in which I have an interest 

 in Central America has recently been infested with rats to such an 

 extent that life is almost unbearable. The place has an extent of sev- 

 eral thousand acres, part of which is forest land, and I have noticed 

 the branches of the bigger trees full of the pests in the daytime." a 



Grapes grown under glass are peculiarly subject to attacks of rats. 

 This is especially true in situations where the surrounding buildings 

 are old and dilapidated. b 



Rats often destroy fruits and vegetables in transit on steamboats. 

 Tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, bananas, oranges, grape fruit, 

 peanuts, and other products shipped by water from the South reach 

 their destination in northern markets with a heavy percentage of 

 damage. Steamship companies usually ignore the claims of shippers 

 or receivers for shortage from this cause; and their legal responsi- 

 bility has not been established. In view of the practicability of 

 destroying rats on steamers by means of fumigation, and the slight 

 cost of building rat-proof compartments for holding the produce, it 

 would seem that this form of loss should be entirely avoided. 



MERCHANDISE IN STORES AND WAREHOUSES. 



Next to the loss on grains, the largest item of loss due to rats is on 

 miscellaneous merchandise in stores, markets, and warehouses. 



a A. H. G., in The Field (London), vol. 107, p. 787, May 6, 1905. 

 & Gardener's Chronicle, 1861, p. 986. 

 81155— Bull. 33—09 4 



