HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 377 



The RAT, 



THOUGH finally weak, and contemptible in its 

 appearance, poffeffes properties which render it a 

 more formidable enemy to mankind, and more injurious 

 to the interefts of fociety, than even thofe animals that 

 are endued with the greater! flrength and mod rapacious 

 difpofitions. To the one we can oppofe united powers 

 and fuperior arts ; with regard to the other, experience 

 has convinced us, that no art can counteract the effects 

 of its amazing fecundity, and that force is ineffectually 

 oppofed to an enemy poffeffed of fuch variety of means 

 to elude it. 



There are two kinds known in this country,— the 

 Black Rat, which was formerly univerfal here, but is 

 now very rarely feen, having been almofl: extirpated by 

 the large brown kind, generally diftinguifned by the 

 name of the Norway Rat. — This formidable invader 

 is now univerfally diffufed through the whole country ; 

 from whence every method has been tried in vain to ex. 

 terminate it. — -It is about nine inches long ; of a light- 

 brown colour, mixed with tawny and am; the throat 

 and belly are of a dirty white, inclining to grey ; its feet 

 are naked, and of a pale flein colour-, the tail is as long 

 as the body, covered with minute dulky fcales, thinly in- 

 terfperfed with fhort hairs. 



