NO RWAY RAT... ree | 
that form that traét: and Linnaeus * takes no notice 
of it in his laft fyftem. It is fit here to remark 
an error that gentleman has in fpeaking of the 
common rat, which he fays was firft brought 
from America into Europe by means of a fhip 
bound to Antwerp. The fac is, that both rat and 
moufe were unknown to the new world before it 
was difcovered by the Europeans, and the firft rats 
it ever knew, were introduced there by a fhip 
from Antwerp +. This animal never made its ap- 
pearance in England tili about forty years ago f, 
It has quite extirpated the common kind wherever 
it has taken its refidence; and it is to be feared 
that we fhall fcarce find any benefit by the change; 
the Norway rat having the fame difpofition, with 
greater abilities for doing mifchief, than the com- 
mon kind. This fpecies burrows like the water rat, 
in the banks of rivers, ponds and ditches; it takes 
the water very readily, and fwims and dives with 
ereat celerity: like the black fpecies, it preys on rab- 
bets, poultry, and all kind of game; and on erain 
and fruits. It increafes moft amazingly faft, pro- . 
ducing from fourteen to eighteen young at a time, 
Its bite is not only fevere, but dangerous; the 
wound being immediately attended with a great 
{welling, and is a long time in healing. Thefe rats 
* Lin, fyft. 83, 
$~ Ovalle’s Hift. of Chile in Churchill’s Voy. iii. 43, 
t This fpecies reached the neighborhood of Paris, akout 
feventeen years ago, 
are 
