THE RAT. 
217 
other things which the adjacent ground would 
afford. 
That they move from place to place in large 
bodies cannot well be disputed. A respectable 
farmer, by name John Mathewman, now living in 
this neighbourhood, has informed me that, as he 
was returning home one moonlight night, about 
eleven o'clock, he suddenly came upon a large 
drove of rats, near Sandal Three-houses. They 
were coming up a lane which opened upon the 
high road ; and, as soon as they discovered him, 
they gave mouth in a general squeal. Those 
nearest to him rose on their hind legs ; and then 
the whole body separated, and scampered off in all 
directions. Probably these adventurers were on the 
look out that night for better quarters. 
Rats will occasionally attempt to feed on indi- 
viduals of the human species when they are asleep. 
In 1824, I went with that excellent American 
naturalist, Mr. Titian Peale, down the Delaware, 
to the neighbourhood of Salem, in order to make 
researches in ornithology ; and we procured good 
lodgings at a farmer's house. During the night 
I was disturbed by a movement in the straw mat- 
tress on which I lay, of a somewhat suspicious 
nature ; but, being exceedingly tired with our 
day's exertion, I fell asleep again till about half- 
past four, my usual hour of rising. At breakfast, 
" Madam," said 1 to the farmer's wife, " I could 
almost have fancied that there were rats in my 
mattress last night." — Very likely, sir," said she, 
with the greatest composure; and then she told 
