THE BLACK RAT 
in some of the seaports. However, this species being by nature well 
adapted to a life on board ship, has often been able to re-establish itself in 
small colonies from overseas, as in Yarmouth, where it was found to be 
numerous by Mr. A. H. Paterson in 1896. Colonies occur in London 
about the docks, also in Bristol and Sunderland, and it has long been known 
in the Channel Islands. 
The Black Rat was plentiful in Scotland well into the nineteenth 
century, being common at one time in both the Orkneys and 
Shetlands. 
Compared with the Brown Rat, this species is more active and 
better adapted for climbing and is said to inhabit by preference the 
upper parts of houses, while its larger cousins remain below in the 
drains and cellars. 
The Black Rat is less cunning and suspicious than the other. 
Both have an evil reputation as spreaders of plague and other diseases. 
The present species breeds several times each year, from seven to nine 
young being born at a time in a warm nest made of various materials. 
Mr. Millais considers there are in the British Islands three well- 
marked races of the so-called ' Black Rat,' which he names the 
Alexandrine Rat (figured in Plate 29), the Northern Alexandrine 
Rat, i.e. the misnamed 'Old English Black Rat' (also figured in 
the Plate), and the Black Alexandrine Rat. The first mentioned he 
regards "as undoubtedly the true species of which the last named 
are sub-specific races." 
The colour of the upper parts of the Alexandrine Rat is a dull 
yellowish brown, shaded along the back with long dark hairs ; the 
under parts are yellowish white. 
In colour, the 'Old English Black Rat' has the upper parts of 
a glistering slaty black, the under surface being a leaden grey, while 
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