5 
PART L 
CHAPTER L 
THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RATS, AND THEIR NATURAL 
HISTORY. 
I SHALL commence by explaining tlie natural character- 
istics of the different kinds of rats ; as the Water Yole (or 
Water Rat) ; the Black Rat ; the Albino (or White Rat) ; 
and the Brown Rat. 
The Water Vole^ 
This species of rat bears little resemblance to those just 
enumerated, either in habits or manners. It is as innocent 
and seclusive as the others are daring and rapacious. It 
eats neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, but lives entirely on roots 
that grow in the water, and at the water's edge ; which posi- 
tion ib never quits under any circumstances, either in sum- 
mer or winter ; but there it lives and dies, in quiet seclusion. 
It is perfectly herbivorous, and may often be seen sitting on 
a stone in the stream, or among the rushes on the bank-side, 
with a piece of succulent root beween its fore-paws, and 
nibbling its repast in perfect peace with every living thing. 
In its external appearance it is not unlike a diminutive 
otter, but is as timid and innocent in its expression as the 
otter is fierce and vindictive. It is of a reddish-brown 
colour, and about the size of a common sewer rat, but with 
a much shorter tail, which is covered with hair. It seems 
to have no ears, as they are so short that the fur entirely 
* The common Water Vole is ihQ Ai'vicola of Cuvier, who divides the 
genius into four species : the Water Vole {Mus amphibius, Linnaeus) ; 
the Alsacian Vole {Mus terrestris) ; the Meadow Vole {Mm arvalis) ; 
and the Economic Vole {Mus xconomicus). 
