DESTRUCTIVE HABITS OF THE TvAT. 
165 
There was, however, one appalling drawback, and that was 
the enormous size, numbers, and impudence of the hideous 
rats with which the place was infested ; and such was their 
daring, that neither the chamber, drawing-room, nor indeed 
any part of the establishment, was free from their perambu- 
lations. If she mefc one on the stairs, it would not turn 
back, but come boldly forward, and pass her by with silent 
contempt. At dinner-time they would walk into the 
dining-room with all the confidence of a pet dog or cat, and 
scramble over her feet after the crumbs that fell, while the 
older ones would clamber up the cloth on to the table, and 
help themselves to what they pleased, and then depart, 
without noticing either her or her husband, or indeed any 
one else who might by chance be dining with them. But, 
as a matter of course, numerous quarrels and fights con- 
tinually took place through others striving to rob the thieves 
of their stolen treasures. However, at the time the lady was 
writing, she had become pretty well reconciled. Thus it is, 
that use will make us familiar with almost anything. But 
what made the matter worse, there was no possibility of 
getting rid of these vermin ; for to kill them would be an 
endless task, and to poison them would only create some 
putrefactive disease in so hot a climate, from the dead car- 
casses that would be lying about in every hole and corner 
of the premises ; so that to live near would be impossible. 
Indeed her husband knew but one plan to get jid of them, 
and that was to set fire to the house, and burn it to the 
ground. This, certainly, would be a most effectual plan, 
but, at the same time, a most expensive one. 
From the number of facts already adduced in the course of 
this introductory chapter, the farmers of Great Britain may 
be perfectly satisfied that their numbers of rats, and the losses 
and annoyances they sustain through them, are by no means 
singular either at home or abroad. Let it be borne in 
mind that there are no annual or quarterly returns of 
rats, as there ought to be, and would be, were they wolves, 
though infinitely less destructive ; but being pronounced 
vermin, no notice is taken of them. Consequently I have 
been driven to the necessity of availing myself of private 
as well as authentic sources, and also to note the circum- 
