100 NORWAY RAT. Clafs L 



that both rat and moufe were unknown "to the new 

 world before it v/as difcovered by the Europmns^ and 

 the firft rats it ever knew, were introduced there by a 

 fhip from Ardwerp *. This animal never made its 

 appearance in England till about forty years ago -f. 

 It has quite extirpated the common kind wherever it 

 has taken its refidence j and it is to be feared that we 

 ^all fcarce find any benefit by the change ; the Nor- 

 way rat having the fame dirpofition, with greater abi- 

 lities of doing mifchief, than the common kind. This 

 fpecies burroughs, like the water rat, in the banks of 

 rivers, ponds and ditches; it takes the water very 

 readily ; and fvvims, and dives with great celerity : 

 like the black fpecies, it preys on rabbets, poultry, 

 and all kind of game j and on grain and fruits. It 

 increafes mofl amazingly faft, producing from four- 

 teen to eighteen young at a time. Its bite is not only 

 fevere, but dangerous ; the wound being immiediateiy 

 attended with a great fwelling, and is a long time in 

 healing, Thefe rats are fo bold, as fometimes to 

 turn on thofe thatpurfue them, and fallen on the ftick 

 or hand of fuch as offer to ftrike them. 



M. Brijfon defcribes this fame animal twice under 

 different names, p. 170. under the title oilerat dti bois', 

 and again, p. 173. under that oi le rat de mrvege, 

 M. de Buffon fiiles it le SuYinulot \ as refembling the 

 mulots, or field mice, in many refpeds \ but exceed- 

 ing them in bulk. 



• O'valles H'ljl. cf Chile in Churchiirs Voy. iii. 43. 

 -|- This fpecies reached the neighbourhood oi Parish about feven- 

 teen years ago. 



Species 



