UNITED ATTACKS OF RATS. 
113 
account of a most extraordinary contest between a body 
of rats and some terriers. " The persons employed in some 
extensive grain stores, were one evening alarmed by the 
furious contention of dogs, and a great noise proceeding 
from the lower end of the yard. On the men arming them- 
selves, and hurrying to the spot with lights in their hands, 
an extraordinary scene presented itself. There were thou- 
sands of rats gathered together on and about a cart, at 
the bottom of which lay the shakings of some meal- bags, 
and a furious battle was raging between the rats, on the 
one part, and two fine terrier dogs, belonging to the master 
of the stores, on the other. Emboldened by numbers, 
the rats firmly maintained their ground, though numbers 
of their comrades lay dead, while, on the other hand, the 
dogs were, as nearly as possible, overpowered when the men 
came to their assistance ; and, even after the arrival of the 
men and lights, the rats did not retreat, but stood in obsti- 
nate defiance, till they were most unceremoniously beaten 
away with sticks and staves. The dogs were severely bitten 
all over their heads and bodies, and indeed in every part of 
them, — so much so, that on the following day they could 
scarcely move." 
" This is the first case " (says the paper referred to) " in 
which we have known these noxious vermin to stand in 
combined force against dogs, though there are well-attested 
cases of their attacking children, and even grown-up 
persons." 
Here we have a tolerably clear illustration of the union 
and combined determination, on the part of rats, to assist 
and support each other, in cases either of attack or defence ; 
and there is little doubt, had the men arrived about a quarter 
of an hour later, that the dogs would have shared the fate of 
the poor tortoiseshell cat. JSTeither do I believe, had the 
celebrated Billy been there, or any of the renowned rat- 
killing dogs of the present day, that they would have 
fared any better ; because overwhelming numbers will defeat 
anything. That there was no want of courage on the 
part of these dogs, the circumstances of the case prove 
beyond a doubt ; for though they were severely punished, 
and nearly overpowered, when the men came, still they were 
sticking to their work like Spartans, and nothing about 
I 
