CHAPTER I\ 



RATS AND MICE. 



Many of the smaller quadrupeds which affect the economy 

 of the farm belong to the great group of rodents, or gnawing 

 animals, among which the Miiridce^ or rat tribe, hold a 

 prominent place. 



The Murince^ or specially rat-like members of the MiLvidce^ 

 aie very typically represented in this country by the voles 

 and various species of rats and mice. 



For the voles, the Liliputians of the beaver tribe, the 

 honour of a separate chapter has been reserved. It will suffice 

 for our purpose to say that, though often confounded with 

 the true rats and mice, they can generally be distinguished 

 by their blunt noses, short ears, and hairy tails. 



THE BROWN RAT {Mils decnmanus). 



Facile princeps among farmyard pests is the brown, or 

 Norway rat. 



Just as, more than 1,500 years ago, hordes of Huns 

 swarmed into Europe from the plains of Tartary, striking 

 terror into the heart of Teuton and Roman, so, early in last 

 century, did huge armies of the brown rat migrate from 

 their home in Central Asia, driving before them and well- 

 nigh exterminating their predecessor the black rat, Mils 

 rathis^ which no longer flourishes except in countries like 

 South America, to which its more powerful congener has 

 not yet penetrated. 



It is very prolific, bearing eight or ten young several 



