FIBER ZIBETHICUS. 
191 
Mr. Martin McRae, a clerk of T. L. Seigle & Co , was set upon by 
seven of the ‘ varmints ’ and was put to flight, not having any weap- 
ons with which to defend himself. Shortly afterwards, Larkin 
Saddler, the Observer s janitor, passed by and about twenty of the 
rats besfan biting at his le^s. Larkin kicked about for dear life and 
finally got one rat under his foot and crushed it to death. Their 
sharp teeth began perforating his hide, and jumping over the fence 
he fled across the mint yard and got away from them. John 
Smith, colored, an employee of the Air Line road, came along 
next, and seeing the curious pack that beset his ankles, uttered a 
terrific yell and fled at the top of his speed. Wm. Norman, a col- 
ored employee of Duls & Co., was the next victim. He had a stick 
and giving the Muskrats battle killed one of their number and put 
the others to flight. 
“ This is the second annual appearance of these savage pests 
upon our streets. Where do they come from and who can account 
for their appearance in our city in such numbers ? One theory is 
that they come from Irwin’s creek, making their way up the ceme- 
tery branch to the flats below the First Presbyterian church and 
thence to the streets of the city. It is very nearly opposite the 
mint that Charlie Fox was attacked by the rats last year.” 
Mr. Ernest E. T. Seton, of Manitoba, writes me that, September 
13th, 1883, near Carberry, he found a Muskrat in a field of stand- 
ing wheat a mile and a half from water. The animal showed fight 
and was captured alive. Mr. Seton writes further : “ While 
travelling on the Rapid City trail in Manitoba, October 2d, 1883, 
the oxen suddenly shied and turned off the road. Then I saw just 
ahead what proved to be a Muskrat ! It was in a threatening 
attitude and sprang toward the nose of one of the cattle. On run- 
ning to it, it seized my trousers in its teeth and held on. When 
kicked off it did not attempt to escape, but fought until killed. It 
was a male.” 
