78 
A DESCRIPTION OF 
respecting one of these animals, in the post-house at New 
Hargare). After dinner, the landlord placed on the floor 
a large dish of soup, and gave a loud whistle. Immedi- 
ately there came into the room a mastiff, an Angora cat, 
an old raven, and a large Rat with a bell about its neck. 
They all four went to the dish, and without disturbing 
each other, fed together ; after which, the dog, cat, and 
Rat lay before the fire, while the raven hopped about the 
room. The landlord, after accounting for the familiarity 
which existed among these animals, informed his guest 
that the Rat was the most useful of the four ; for that the 
noise he made had completely freed the house from the 
Rats and mice with which it had been before infested. 
THE WATER RAT (Arvicola aquatica) 
Differs very little from the Land Rat, and inhabits the 
banks of rivers and ponds, where he digs holes always 
