378 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



In fummer, it frequents the banks of rivers, ponds, 

 and ditches i where it lives on frogs, fifh, and fmall 

 animals. But its rapacity is not confined entirely to 

 thefe : It deftroys rabbits, poultry, young pigeons, &c. : 

 It infefts the granary, the barn, and the ftorehoufe j does 

 infinite mifchief among corn and fruit of all kinds ; and, 

 not content with fatisfying its hunger, frequently carries 

 off large quantities to its hiding-place. 



It is a bold and fierce little animal ; and when clofely 

 purfued, will turn and faften on its aflailant. — Its bite is 

 keen ; and the wound it inflicts is painful, and difficult 

 to heal, owing to the form of its teeth, which are long, 

 fiiarp, and of an irregular form. 



The Rat is amazingly prolific, ufually producing from 

 twelve to eighteen at one time. — Their numbers would 

 foon increafe beyond all power of reftraint, were it not 

 for an infatiable appetite that impels them to deftroy 

 and devour each other. The weaker always fall a prey 

 to the ftronger ; and the large male Rat, which ufually 

 lives by itfelf, is dreaded by thofe of its own fpecies as 

 their mod formidable enemy. 



It is a fingular fact, in the hiftory of thefe animals, 

 that the fkins of fuch of them as have been devoured in 

 their holes have frequently been found, curioufly turned 

 Infideout; every part being completely inverted, even to 

 the ends of the toes. How the operation is performed, 

 it would be difficult to afcertain ; but it appears to be ef- 

 fected in fome peculiar mode of eating out the contents. 



Befides the numbers that perifh in thefe unnatural con- 

 flicts, they have many fierce and inveterate enemies, that 

 take every occafion to deftroy them. Several kinds of 

 Dogs purfue them with great alacrity, and eagerly kill 

 them, though they invariably refufe to eat their flefli : 



