ORDER OE RODENTIA. 
439 
These animals are very numerous ; for the females bring forth 
several times a year litters composed of ten to twelve young, 
which are soon able to reproduce. The males are polygamous, and 
take no part whatever in the rearing of their progeny. 
Eats are the most destructive of all Eodents ; for although 
their principal food is formed of seeds and roots, they are, as 
we have said, omnivorous. They make their abode in the culti- 
vated fields, gardens, and plantations, each locality suffering by 
their residence. Houses, barns, hay-sheds, provision- stores, 
sewers, slaughter-houses, butchers’ shops, restaurants, &c., are, 
however, their favourite abodes. 
When a colony of Eats is established in any locality, and no 
longer find a sufficient supply of food, it emigrates to a new place 
of residence. They sometimes, on such occasions, accomplish long 
journeys. Streams, and even the widest rivers cannot then stop 
them. Onward appears to be their watchword, until they meet 
with a neighbourhood suited to their requirements. One word, 
however, we have to say in their favour, on these occasions they 
exhibit a strong spirit of fellowship, for, far from abandoning the 
old and infirm, they come to their assistance, obviating as much 
as possible all the difficulties that surround their situation. 
Dr. Franklin states that he has seen an old Eat, deprived of 
sight, holding in its mouth the end of a twig, the other end of 
which was grasped by a comrade, who thus led the unfortunate. 
So rapid is the increase of Eats, that they w T ould be a perfect 
scourge to humanity, if it were not for various and powerful 
causes of destruction which limit their multiplication. Hot only 
do Owls,’ Buzzards, and other birds of prey, make slaughter 
among them, but even they destroy and devour one another, 
either for the possession of the females, or (which is the more 
general case) in consequence of the scarcity of subsistence. 
With regard to this point, Parent-Duchatelet relates the 
following fact, which Magendie witnessed. The celebrated physi- 
ologist had caused a dozen Brown Eats to be shut up in a box. 
When he arrived home he found only three left ; these had 
devoured the nine others, and a few bones and other scattered 
remains were all that attested of the victims’ existence. 
In cities it is highly necessary that steps should be taken to 
limit the increase of these troublesome animals ; but in spite of 
