462 
HABITS OF THE RAT. 
tried the tempers of the three animals in the following manner :—I had found a 
nest of about half-a-dozen Field Mice, two of which I introduced into the cages 
of the Black, white, and Brown Rats. The Black Rat only examined the 
strangers with his nose, seemed disposed to play with them, and the three became 
immediately great friends. The albino Rat paid no attention to the Mice until 
they approached him, when he seized upon and killed them both, but did not 
devour them. The two which I introduced into the cage of the Brown Rat 
fared still worse; for, springing upon them the instant he saw them, he destroyed 
and devoured them. 
Their battles, it may be observed, are noisy, being always accompanied with a 
hissing scream, and often a succession of squalls. 
I once introduced a young kitten into the room where the three Rats were at 
play. This kitten was too young to destroy either of my pets, yet sufficiently 
grown to afford me room for observing how each -would act -when in the presence 
of his natural enemy. 
The Black Rat, on perceiving the Cat, sprung to my knee, and sought the 
concealment of my bosom. The white Rat at first fled, but afterwards cautiously 
returned, reconnoitering the enemy from a safe distance. 
The Brown Rat, on the other hand, approached her slowly with bristles erect, 
and then with a single spring, heavy and un wieldly as he was, reached her head, 
and, fastening on poor pussy’s nose, rolled her over and over on the carpet, and 
was so much excited also as to revenge my interference in taking him off, by a 
bite after his own fashion, which remained painful some days ; and this I in my 
turn recompensed with a severe but well-merited ducking. 
Frequently, while reading in my study during the evening, the three Rats 
(usually at large while I was in the room) would climb upon my table, and 
torment me with their insatiable curiosity—the edges of my book would be well 
clawed, and, indeed, sometimes nibbled. If I were taking tea at the time, which 
I generally did alone (not having time to waste) in my 6tudy, they would take 
advantage of my being absorbed in my book, to attack my bread and butter, sip 
my tea or coffee, and perhaps everturn the cup over my papers ; and these acts 
being commonly the work of a moment, while my attention was engaged, I had 
no help for it but to confine the little nuisances, a thing I was always loath to do 
while it could be avoided. 
I used to get rid of my little Black pet’s annoyances by placing him in my 
bosom or pocket, where he would speedily fall asleep. A tap with my finger 
would put the white gentleman to flight, but as for my Norwegian friend—a 
fillip from my finger would be repaid with a bite; and the oftener I would push 
him off the table, the more obstinately would he re-ascend to tease me; and 
after a few such pushes and returns, he would fly into a passion, and seizing any 
