452 
THE VORACITY OF THE BROWN RAT. 
other “ vermin,” and permit none but themselves to be in possession of the domain which they 
have chosen. It is a well-known fact that they have driven away the black Rat, and estab- 
lished themselves in its place with wonderful rapidity, having been accidentally brought to 
England by some vessel in which they had embarked, and found the climate to suit them as 
a permanent residence. Some of these animals were purposely introduced into Jamaica, in 
order to extirpate the plantation Rats, which did such damage to the growing crops. They 
soon drove away the original “vermin ; ” but like the Saxons when invited to help the Britons, 
or like the man who was requested to aid the horse against the stag, were found to be more 
dangerous foes than the enemy whom they had overcome. 
The Brown Rat is well fitted for its exterminating mission, as it is a fierce and dangerous 
animal, and can inflict very painful wounds with its long incisor teeth. An unarmed man 
would be quite impotent against the attacks of even a small party of old sewer Rats, while a 
large body of these animals would make but short work of any man, however well he might be 
armed. There is a wonderful power of combination in the Brown Rat, which enables it to act 
in concert with its companions, and renders it a truly formidable animal when it chooses to 
make a combined attack upon man or beast. A number of these animals have been known 
to attack a cat, and inflict such grievous injuries that the poor creature had to be killed as 
soon as its evil plight was discovered by its owner. Even a single Rat is no despicable antag- 
onist, and, according to the observations of practical men, could beat ofi a ferret in fair fight, 
and would foil any but a properly trained dog. 
It is an exceedingly voracious animal, eating all kinds of strange food, and not sparing its 
own species in times of scarcity. Like the wolves, the Rats will always fall upon and devour 
one of their companions if it should chance to be wounded, and excite their carnivorous 
passions by the sight and smell of flowing blood. If a Rat should be caught by a foot or a leg 
in a steel trap, its former companions will often fly upon the poor captive and tear it to 
pieces, instead of endeavoring to effect its release. As in such instances the imprisoned limb 
is left in the teeth of the trap, it has been erroneously supposed that the Rat had severed its 
own limb in order to set itself free. 
From some strange cause, the male Rats far outnumber the females, the proportion being 
about eight of the former to three or four of the latter. This disproportion of the sexes may 
possibly be caused by the cannibalistic habits of the Rat, the flesh of the female being more 
tender than that of the opposite sex. Whatever may be the cause, it is clear that the wider 
increase of these creatures is greatly checked by the comparative paucity of females. 
There is scarcely a greater plague to the farmer, butcher, sailor, provision merchant, or 
poultry keeper than the Rat, whose mingled craft, daring, and perpetual hunger require the 
greatest watchfulness and the most elaborate precaution. The havoc which an army of Rats 
will make among the corn-ricks is almost incredible, while they carry on their depredation 
with so much secrecy that an unpractised eye would think the stacks to be sound and 
unharmed. Fortunately they can easily be dislodged from any rick by taking it down, and 
replacing it on proper “staddles,” taking great care that no stray weeds or branches afford 
a foothold to these persevering marauders. While the rick is being rebuilt, no particular care 
need be taken to shake the Rats out of the sheaves, for, as they are thirsty animals, they will 
be forced to leap from the stack in search of water, and then will not be able to return. 
Mice can subsist in a stack by means of the rain and dew which moistens the thatch, and 
may be often seen licking the straws in order to quench their thirst. But the Rats are less 
tolerant of thirst, and are forced to evacuate their premises. When mice and Rats are found 
inhabiting the same stack, the former animals reside in the upper parts and the Rats in the 
lower. 
Poultry of all kinds suffer sadly from these carnivorous creatures, which have a custom ot 
invading the hen-roosts by night, and making prey of the fowls as they sit quietly sleeping on 
their perches. Birds are always indisposed to move during the hours of darkness, so that the 
cunning rodent finds no difficulty in carrying out its destructive intentions. Rabbit-fanciers 
have great cause to be indignant with the Rat, for when it once gains access to the hutches, 
the safety of the entire stock is in imminent danger. The only way to secure the survivors is 
