82 
ST. HELENA. 
writes : “ The rats are so numerous at Longwood, and so fearless, 
that they often assemble, even in the daytime, in flocks to feed 
when the offal of the kitchen is thrown out, and have not unaptly 
been compared to broods of young chickens collected about the 
parent hen. The floors of Longwood were so perforated with their 
holes as to resemble a sieve. Over these the servants had nailed 
pieces of tin, to keep them out. Napoleon’s dining-room was 
particulai’ly infested with them ; and it is a fact that one of these 
noxious animals sprung out of his hat when he was going to put it 
on one day after dinner. The devastations committed by them 
were almost incredible, and latterly rat-liunting became a favourite 
sport at Longwood. The chase was performed in the following 
manner : — A little before dark the holes were uncovered, and 
entrance afforded to the game. Soon after, five or six of the servants 
rushed in, with lights, sticks, and followed by dogs, covered the 
holes as fast as possible and attacked the rats, who, when driven to 
desperation, made a vigorous defence, assailed the dogs, and some- 
times even the men, by running up their legs and biting them. 
Sixteen were killed in this manner in less than half an hour in one 
of the rooms !” 
M. musculus, Linn. — The little brown field mouse has few 
enemies in St. Helena. Birds, excepting the domestic fowl, trouble 
it not, and dogs and cats very little, so that mice exist everywhere 
in considerable numbers, in the bouses as well as in the rocks and 
fields. This, with the foregoing species, has been kindly identified 
by Mr. Gerrard, of the British Museum. 
Order Carnivora. 
Felis, Linn. 
F. domestica, Linn. — The domestic cat is as plentiful as in 
other parts of the world ; it also assumes wild habits, existing 
abundantly on the rocky outskirts of the Island in holes and caves, 
where, amongst the eggs and young of partridges and other birds, 
it commits such havoc that sportsmen never lose an oppor- 
tunity of killing it. Cats abound at a place called Cat Hole, 
where they live chiefly upon pigeons. There is no record of their 
introduction. 
Canis, Linn. 
C. familiaris, Linn. — The domestic dog, which numbers about 
