102 
THE RAT. 
till it dies, and this he did, with the most unflinching 
determination. 
I may as well here mention that these old gentlemen, or 
rather retired rats, having been, as it were, surfeited with 
satiety, become entirely changed in their disposition ; and 
then possess feelings towards the females as loathsome and 
malignant, as before they were ardent and importunate. 
They will beat off or kill any rat, whether male or female, 
that shall dare to intrude upon their privacy. The con- 
sequence is, that they often, like the rats of Siam, keep the 
premises entirely free, where they chance to take up their 
abode ; and should any anxious mother seek an asylum in 
his domains, for the purpose of rearing her young in 
secret, as sure as he finds them out, so sure will he 
eat them, and her too, if he can catch her. Herein is he in- 
finitely superior to either cat or dog, for keeping the founda- 
tion of your premises clear of vermin, because he can go 
where they cannot. But then it is necessary to be certain 
that he is a retired gentleman, and not a pioneer, before you 
allow him fair possession of your premises, or you may have 
cause to rue your indiscretion. Still this matter can be 
easily ascertained by a little careful observation. If he be 
regular in his haunts and feeding, and there are no signs of 
another about the place, then the matter is pretty clear ; but 
if you find that he allows others to keep him compan}^, that 
instant set to work and get rid of them and him too. or you 
may soon be inundated. 
About five-and-thirty years since, a countryman came to 
London, and brought with him a large tame rat, which he 
led about by a chain and collar ; but when the creature was 
tired he would carry it on his arm, or in his bosom or 
pocket. The curiosity of such a sight drew many pence 
from the passers-by ; nor indeed was this the only way the 
rat realized money for its master. It had fought many bat- 
tles with dogs for various sums, ranging between five shillings 
and a guinea each match ; and in all of which he had proved 
victorious. But, alas ! he fought one battle too many. It 
happened, that while standing by Tyburn Gate, with a 
number of people round him, a groom came along with a 
little white rough terrier ; but seeing the rat, he caught up 
the dog, and remonstrated with the man for letting the rat 
