RATS AND MICE, 



35 



times a year, and its depredations upon poultry, pigeons, 

 grain, roots, and the bark of trees witness to its omnivorous 

 appetite. 



Rats have been known to steal eggs, and to carry them off 

 without breaking them ; they are cannibals, and eat each 

 other on occasion ; and they will not hesitate to attack 

 animals, such as rabbits, which are much larger than them- 

 selves. 



In waging war against these pests our weapons are of two 

 kinds — poison and traps. The former is perhaps the more 

 humane, but within doors it is apt to lead to unpleasant 

 consequences quite apart from its possible consumption by 

 dogs and cats. If a poisoned rat should die beneath the 

 flooring, recourse should be had to an expedient which is 

 probably familiar to the reader. Not blood-hounds, but 

 bluebottles, are placed upon the trail, for, if imprisoned in the 

 room, they will settle in the neighbourhood of the offensive 

 body, and indicate its precise v/hereabouts. 



In a highly useful article in the Journal of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society on ^'Vermin of the Farm," Mr.Harting 

 quotes from Waterton a recipe which is, perhaps, as 

 efficacious as any. Two pounds of coarse brown sugar and 

 one dessert-spoonful of arsenic are thoroughly mixed with 

 as much oatmeal as would fill an ordinary washhand basin. 

 The dose is a tablespoonful, which should be placed from 

 time to time in the runs frequented by the rats. 



Mr. Harting adds the useful suggestion that shallow 

 vessels of water should be placed near the poison in order 

 that the rats may attempt to quench their thirst induced by 

 the arsenic, and thus die on the spot instead of in their 

 holes. Chickens killed and partially eaten by rats should 

 be poisoned in anticipation of their return. 



If traps be preferred to poison, they should not be too large, 

 and, if properly placed, will often be more efficacious unbaited 

 than baited. The disposition both of poison and traps is of 



