TAME RATS. 
33 
the finest fellows ever seen, and as tame and playful as a dog. 
But for keeping the place clear of vermin, it was worth all 
the cats and rat-catchers in the neighbourhood. For my 
own part, I feel no hesitation in saying that any one who 
could feel a fancy for such a thing would find the results 
most satisfactory. 
A man living at Witnesham teaches rats to perform 
various tricks, such as picking up cards, drinking out of 
glasses, (fee. ; and what is even more extraordinary, he has in 
his possession ten rats, the lightest of which weighs four 
pounds. 
The " Naturalist's Cabinet" gives an interesting account 
of a gentleman who, about thirty years since, was travelling 
through Mecklenberg, and was witness to a very singular 
circumstance : — " In the post house at New Hargard, after 
dinner, the landlord placed on the floor a large dish of soup, 
and then gave a loud whistle. Immediately there came 
into the room a mastiff, a fine Angora cat, an old raven, and 
a remarkably large rat with a bell about its neck. They all 
four went to the dish, and, without disturbing each other, 
fed together ; after which the dog, cat, and rat lay before 
the fire, while the raven hopped about the room. The land- 
lord, after accounting for the familiarity which existed 
among these animals, informed his guest that the rat was by 
far the most useful of the four ; for the noise he made with 
his bell had completely freed the house of rats and mice, 
with which it had been previously seriously infested." This 
1 know, to a certain extent, would have the effect mentioned. 
But that is not removing the national evil ; it is onl}^ driving 
the calamity from your own house into that of your neigh- 
bours, and to the country at large. It matters little as to 
whether the rats have eaten up all farmer Smith's corn, or 
farmer Johnson's ; the corn is missing in the market, and 
hence is the price of bread affected, without any advantage 
to the farmer, who has no corn to sell. But I shall mention 
this subject hereafter, and at present proceed with the 
taming of rats. 
In Lee's " Habits and Instinct of Animals," it is related 
that two ladies were walking out one day and were accosted 
by a man who requested them to buy a beautiful little dog 
which he carried in his arms, and which was covered all 
D 
