RAT RAT 
bring the greater number into their tracks, and to 
^courage them to purfue it to the central place, 
where they are intended to be taken. At that 
pkice, when time admits, a more pkntiful repail 
Ihoukl be laid for them; and this trailing may be 
repeated for two or three nights. 
Befides this method of trailing, fome expe- 
rienced Rat-catchers have adopted a fliorter, and 
perhaps more effeftual method of collecting thefe 
vermin; namely, the calling them by a kind of 
whiftling refembling their natural voice; and by 
this means, with the afliftance of way-baits, they 
draw them out of their holes, and lead them to 
the repaft prepared for them at the place defigned 
for their capture. But this is much m.ore diffi- 
cult to be pra6tifcd than the art of trailing; for, 
to acquire the exaft notes of any animal fo as to 
deceive it, is not very eafily attained. 
In attempting either of the foregoing methods, 
great caution mull be ufed by the operator to fup- 
prefs and prevent the effluvia of his feet and body 
from being perceived; which is eifcfted by over- 
coming that fcent by others of a ftronger nature. 
In order to this, the feet fhould be wrapped in 
cloths impregnated with aflafcetida, or other 
ftrong-fmelling fubftances ; and even oil of rho- 
dium is fometimes ufed for this purpofe, but fpar- 
ingly on account of it's dearnefs, though it has a 
very alluring as well as difguifing effecft. If this 
caution of avoiding the fcent of the operator's 
feet, near the track, and in the place where the 
Rats are intended to be collected, be not properly 
obferved, it will eflentially obftru6l the fuccefs of 
the purfuit; for they are very fhy of coming where 
that fcent is perceptible, as it intimates to t!ieir 
fagacious inftin6t the vicinity of the human fpe- 
cies, whom they naturally dread. 
When the Rats are thus enticed and coUefted, 
if time permits, and the whole number is intended 
to be deftroyed, they are fufFered to regale on 
what they like beft, and then to go away without 
nioleftation, for two or three nights together; by 
which means thofe Rats which are not allured the 
firft night, are brought afterwards, either by their 
fellows, or the effefts of the trailing. But many 
Rat-catchers are unwilling to delay their opera- 
tions fo long, and therefore content themfelves 
with what vermin can be drawn together in one 
night or two ; but this never proves effeclual, ex- 
cept where the building is fmall and entire, and 
the Rats but few in number. 
Various methods are ufed to fecure thefe crea- 
tures when brought into one company. Some 
entice them into a very large bag, the mouth of 
which is fufficiently capacious to cover nearly 
the whole floor of the place where they are col- 
lected; and this is accompliflied by fmearing fome 
veffel, placed in the middle of the bag, with oil 
of rhodium, at the fame time laying baits of their 
favourite food within the bag: this bag, which 
before lay flat on the ground, with it's mouth 
fpread open, is fuddenly clofed on the Rats. 
Others drive or frighten them by flight noifes or 
motions into a bag of a long form ; the mouth of 
which, after all the Rats have got in, is drawn up 
to the opening of the place by which thev entered, 
every other avenue being fecured. Others again 
intoxicate or poifon them, by mixing with their 
repafl: the coculus Indicus, or nux vomica. A 
receipt for this purpofe has been publifhed, which 
direfts four ounces of the coculus Indicu'i, with 
twQlvs of oatmeal, and two of treacly or honey, 
made up into a moift pafl:e with flrong beer: but 
if the nux vomica be ufed, a much lefs proportion 
will icrvc than is here given of the coculus. Any 
fimilar compofition of thefe drugs with thatfpecies 
of food which has a flrong flavour, and is gene- 
rally admired by the Rats, to conceal the nature 
of the drugs, will be equally efficacious. If in- 
deed tlie coculus Indicus be Vv^ell powdered, and 
infufed in the fl:rong beer for fome z'lme, at leafi: 
half the quantity here direfted will fuffice as Vv'ell 
as the Vv'hole. When the Rats appear to be tho- 
roughly intoxicated with the coculus, or fick with 
the nux vomica, they may be taken with th« 
hand, and put into a bag or cage; the donrof the 
place being nrft fliut, left any fliould have ftrength 
and fagacicy enough remaining to make their 
efcape. 
Rat, V/ater; the Mus Aunphibius of Lin- 
naeus. This animal is nearly as large as the Nor- 
way Rat, but has a larger head, a blunter nofe, 
and fnaHer eyes. It's ears are very lliort, and 
almofl: hid in the fur; and the tip of it's tail is 
w'liitifli. It's head and back are covered with 
long black hair, and it's belly with iron grey. 
This creature fomewhat refembles the beaver; 
which induced Linnaeus, in the firfl: edition of his 
Fauna Suecica, to denominate it Caftor Cauda 
Lineari Tereti. It is very expert at fwimming 
and diving; and was fuppofed, both by Ray and 
Linnjeus, to be web-footed; but this has been 
found to be a miftake, it's toes pretty much re- 
fembling thofe of it's kind. It is a native of Eu- 
rope and North America. It never frequents 
houfes; but generally refides near the margins of 
rivers, ditches, and ponds, where it burrows and 
breeds, ufually bringing forth about fix at a time. 
It feeds on frogs, fnall fiOi, roots and infefts; and 
is itfclfthe prey of the pike. 
This animal and the otter are permitted to be 
eaten in France on maigre days. 
Rat, Mountain. See Marmotte. 
RAT GOOSE. An appellation Sfiven by 
fome naturaliflis to a fmall fpecics of v.'ild Gvoofe, 
common in fome of the northern counties of Eng- 
land. See Goose. 
RAT-TAILED WCRfvlS. A fpecics of 
flying Worms with long tails refembling thofe of 
Rats, v/hence they receive their name. They are 
of feveral fizes, and are found in different coun- 
tries; but all change into two-winged flies, hav- 
ing a ftrong flmulicude to bees; and are therefore 
commonly called bee-flies. 
RATEL; the Viverra Ratel of Sparmian. A 
name whereby the Hottentots exprefs an animal 
of the weafel kind which inhabits the country 
near the Cape of Good Hope, feeds on honey, 
and is extremely defl:ru(fl:ive to bees. It has a 
blunt black nofe; no external ears, but a fmall 
rim round the orifice; a rough tongue; flaort 
legs; and very long claws, which are ftraight like 
thofe of the badger, and canulated beneath. The 
colour of the forehead, crown, and the whole up- 
per part of the body, is a cinereous grey ; the 
cheeks and fpace round the ears, throat, breaft, 
belly, and limbs, are black; and a duficy line ex- 
tends from each ear to the tail along the fides, 
beneath which there is another of grey. The 
length, from the nofe to the tail, is forty inches; 
and the tail is tvv'clve. 
This animal preys in the evening; afcends the 
higheft parts of the defart for the benefit of a 
view ; and then puts one foot before it's eyes, to 
prevent 
