CHAP. XV.

ANIMALS OF THE RAT KIND.*

WERE it necessary to distinguish animals of the rat kind from all others, we might describe them as having

(Rat and Young.)

two large cutting teeth, like the hare kind, in each jaw; as covered with hair; and as not ruminating. These distinctions might serve to guide us, had we not too near an acquaintance with this noxious race to be mistaken in their kind. Their. numbers, their minuteness, their vicinity, their vast multiplication, all sufficiently contribute to press them upon our obervation, and remind us of their existence. Indeed, if we look through the different ranks of animals, from the largest to the smallest, from the great elephant to the diminutive mouse, we shall find that we suffer greater injuries from the contemptible meanness of the one, than the formidable invasions of the other. Against the elephant, the rhinoceros, or the lion, we can oppose united strength; and by art make up the deficiencies of natural power: these we have driven into their native solitudes, and obliged to continue at a distance, in the most inconvenient regions and unhealthful climates. But it is otherwise with the little teasing race I am now describing: no force can be exerted against their unresisting timidity; no arts can diminish their amazing propagation: millions may be at once destroyed, and yet the breach be repaired in the space of a very few weeks; and, in proportion as Nature has denied them force, it has supplied the defect by their fecundity.

THE GREAT RAT.-Of these, the animal best known at present, and in every respect the most mischievous, is the Great Rat; which, though but a new comer into this country, has taken too secure a possession to be ever removed. This hateful and rapacious creature, though sometimes called the Rat of Norway, is utterly unknown in all the northern countries, and, by the best accounts I can learn, comes originally from the Levant. Its first arrival, as I am assured, was upon the coasts of Ireland, in those ships that traded in provisions to Gibraltar; and perhaps we owe to a single pair of these animals, the numerous progeny that now infests the whole extent of the British empire.†

ANIMALS OF THE RAT KIND. — These have the upper front teeth wedge-shaped, three grinders on each side in each jaw, though sometimes only two, and have perfect collar bones. In Turton's Linne, forty-six species are described, besides varieties.

THE SURMULOT.-This rat came from the southern regions of Asia, and its instinct has established it more completely among us than we could have ever done by our intelligence. Vain efforts, indeed, are daily made to naturalize in our climate, species that might be useful, and which seem to require much less for that purpose than this animal, whose wants are numerous. Notwithstanding this, it has been introduced and multiplied among us, in spite of every natural difficulty. Its multiplication is at present so great, that it is impossible effectually to oppose its encivachinents and ravages. Towards the

middle of the 16th century, they were observed for the first time in the neighbourhood of Paris, and M. F. Cuvier assures us that in some departments of France, they are yet unknown. Pallas tells us that they arrived at Astracan in the autumn of 1727, in such numbers, and in so short a time, that nothing could be done to oppose them. They came from the western desert, and transversed the waves of the Volga, which unquestionably must have swallowed up a part of their horde. They have not advanced any farther north, and are not to be found in Siberia.

THE COMMON RAT.-This and the surmulot, or brown rat, appears not to be aboriginal in Europe. Nothing indicates any knowledge of this animal among the ancients, and the more modern authors who have spoken clearly on the subject, go no further back than the sixteenth century. Some na

This animal, which is called by Buffon the Surmulot, is in length about nine inches; its eyes are large and black; the colour of the head, and the whole upper part of the body, is of a light brown, mixed with tawny and ash colour. The end of the nose, the throat and belly, are of a dirty white, inclining to a grey; the feet and legs are almost bare, and of a dirty, pale, flesh colour; the tail is as long as the body, covered with minute dusky scales, mixed with a few hairs, and adds to the general deformity of its detestable figure. It is chiefly in the colour that this animal differs from the black rat, or the common rat, as it was once called; but now common no longer. This new invader, in a very few years after its arrival, found means to destroy almost the whole species, and to possess itself of their retreats.

But it was not against the black rat alone that its rapacity was directed; all other animals of inferior strength shared the same misfortunes. The contest with the black rat was of short continuance. As it was unable to contend, and had no holes to fly to for retreat, but where its voracious enemy could pursue, the whole race was soon extinguished. The frog also was an animal equally incapable of combat or defence. It had been designedly introduced into the kingdom of Ireland some years before the Norway rat; and it was seen to multiply amazingly. The inhabitants were pleased with the propagation of a harmless animal, that served to rid their fields of insects; and even the prejudices of the people were in its favour, as they supposed that the frog contributed to render their waters more wholesome. But the Norway rat soon put a stop to their increase; as these animals were of an amphibious nature, they pursued the frog to its lakes and took it even in its own natural element. I am, therefore, assured, that the frog is once more almost extinct in that kingdom; and that the Norway rat, having no more enemies left there to destroy, is grown less numerous also.

We are not likely, therefore, to gain by the destruction of our old domestics, since they are replaced by such mischievous successors. The Norway rat has the same disposition to injure us, with much greater power of mischief. It burrows in the bank of rivers, ponds, and ditches; and is every year known to do incredible damage to those mounds that are raised to conduct streams, or to prevent rivers from overflowing. In these holes, which it forms pretty near the edge of the water, it chiefly resides during the summer, where it lives upon small animals, fish, and corn. At the approach of winter, it comes nearer the farm houses; burrows in their corn, eats much, and damages still more than it consumes. But nothing that can be eaten, seems to escape its voracity. It destroys rabbits, poultry, and all kinds of game; and, like the polecat, kilis much more than it can carry away. It swims with great ease, dives with great celerity, and easily thins the fish pond. In short, scarce any of the feebler animals escape its rapacity, except the mouse, which shelters itself in its little hole, where the Norway rat is too big to follow.

These animals frequently produce from fifteen to thirty at a time; (g) and usually bring forth three times a year.

To this species I will subjoin as a variety, the black rat, mentioned above, greatly resembling the former in figure, but very distinct in nature, as appears from their mutual antipathy. This animal was formerly as mischievous as it was common; but at present it is almost utterly extirpated by the great rat, one

turalists think with Linnæus and Pallas, that we have received it from America, and others believe that it is a present of our own to that country, made after we had ourselves received it from the eastern regions. It is certain that the rat is to be found in all the temperate climates of the globe: that it is wonderfully common in Persia, and multiplied to a prodigious extent in the western islands, where it is not obliged by winter to seek a

refuge in the habitations of man, but where the fields during the entire year present it with abundance of nutriment. In all this part of America, accordingly, it has become a perfect scourge, from its ravages and devastations. In fact, the rat consumes an immense quantity of provisions, and destroys or damages still more than it consumes, particularly in the fields, as it cuts up from the roots, plants of which it cats but a portion. (g) Buffon, vol. xvii. p. 2.

malady often expelling another. It has become so scarce, that I do not remember ever to have seen one. It is said to be possessed of all the voracious and unnatural appetites of the former; though, as it is less, they may probably be less noxious. To this also we may subjoin the black water rat, about the same size with the latter, with a larger head, a blunter nose, less eyes, and shorter ears, and the tip of its tail a little white. It was supposed by Ray to be web-footed; but this has been found to be a mistake, its toes pretty much resembling those of its kind. It never frequents houses; but is usually found on the banks of rivers, ditches, and ponds, where it burrows and breeds. It feeds on fish, frogs, and insects; and in some countries it is eaten on fasting days. THE MOUSE.-An animal equally mischievous, and equally well known with the former, is the mouse. Timid, cau

tious, and active, all its dispositions are similar to those of the rat, except with fewer powers of doing mischief.(g) Fearful by nature, but familiar from necessity, it attends upon mankind, and comes an unbidden guest to his most delicate entertainments. Fear and necessity seem to regulate all its motions; it never leaves its hole but to seek provision, and seldom ventures above a few paces from

(Mouse.)

home. Different from the rat, it does not go from one house to another, unless it be forced; and, as it is more easily satisfied, it does much less mischief.t

*ANECDOTE.-Dr. Shaw in his general Zoology, informs us, that a gentleman travelling through Mecklenburg, about thirty years ago, was witness to the following urious circumstance in the post house. Tew Stargard. After dinner, the landlord.aced on the floor a large dish of soup, and gave a loud whistle. Immediately there came into the room a mastiff, a fine Angora cat, an old raven, and a remarkably large rat with a bell about its neck. The four animals went to the dish, and without disturbing each other, + BARBARY MOUSE.-(Mus Barbaru) colour: marked on the back with ten slender streaks: three toes with claws on the fore feet, with the rudiments of a thumb: tail of the length of the body. Inhabits Barbary.-PENNANT.

FRENCH MICE.-A variety of the mouse kind many of our readers have seen in the streets of London; shown about by the Savoyards, of a milk white colour, with red eyes. We merely allude to this variety, which both in size and disposition does not differ from the common coloured sort, to state, that attempts at domesticating the kind on this side of the channel have proved abortive, from

the hostility, (we believe), generally manifested by our native mice to the elegant little stranger. As it is, they answer an innocent,

fed together; after which the dog, cat, aud rat, lay before the fire, while the raven hopped about the room. The landlord after accounting for the familiarity which existed among the animals, informed his guest that the rat was the most useful of the four, for the noise he made had completely freed the house from the rats and mice with which it was before infested.

DESTRUCTION OF RATS.-Rats are effectually banished by sprinkling chloride of lime in their haunts.-MIRROR. Less than the common mouse: of a brown

and in one sense, useful end, in earning for their adventurous protectors, a subsistence by the gratuities of the curious and humane.-ED. (g) Buffon, vol. xv. p. 145.

Almost all animals are tamed more difficultly in proportion to the cowardice of their natures. The truly bold and courageous easily become familiar, but those that are always fearful are ever suspicious. The mouse being the most feeble, and consequently the most timid of all quadrupeds, except the guineapig, is never rendered thoroughly familiar; and, even though fed in a cage. retains its natural apprehensions. In fact, it is to these alone that it owes its security. (g) No animal has more enemies, and few so incapable of resistance. The owl, the cat, the snake, the hawk, the weasel, and the rat itself, destroy this species by millions, and it only subsits by its amazing fecundity.

The mouse brings forth at all seasons, and several times in the year. Its usual number is from six to ten.* These in less than a fortnight are strong enough to run about and shift for themselves. They are chiefly found in farmer's yards and among their corn, but are seldom in those ricks that are much infested with rats. They generally choose the south-west side of the rick, from whence most rain is expected; and from thence they often, of an evening, venture forth to drink the little drops either of rain or dew that hang at the extremities of the straw. (g)

To this species, merely to avoid teasing the reader with a minute description of animals very inconsider

able and very nearly alike, I will add that of the longtailed field-mouse, which is larger than the former, of a colour very nearly resembling the Norway rat, and chiefly found in fields and gardens. They are tremely voracious, and hurtful in gardens and young nurseries, where they are killed in great numbers.

ex

(Long-tailed Field-mouse.)

However, their fecundity quickly repairs the destruction.

*THE FECUNDITY OF MICE. An extraordinary instance of the rapid increase of mice, and of the injury they sometimes do, occured a few years ago in the new plantations, made by order of the Crown, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, and in the New Forest, Hampshire. Soon after the formation of these plantations, a sudden and rapid increase of mice took place in them, which threatened destruction to the whole of the young plants. Vast numbers of these were killed, the mice having eaten through the root of five years old oaks and chestnuts, generally just below the surface of the ground. Hollies also, which were five and six feet high, were barked round the bottom, and in some instances the mice had crawled up the tree, and were even feeding on the bark of the upper branches. In the reports made to Government on the subject, it appears that the roots had been eaten through wherever they obstructed the run of the mice, but that the bark of the trees constituted their food. This was ascertained by confining a number of the mice in cages, and supplying them with the fresh roots and bark of trees, whence (g) E volueribus hirundines sunt indociles, e terrestribus mures.-PLIN. (g) Buffon, vol. xv. p. 147.

it was found that they fed greedily on the latter, and left the roots untouched. Various plans were devised for their destruction; traps were set, poison laid, and cats turned out, but nothing appeared to lessen their numbers. It was at last suggested, that if holes were dug into which the mice might be enticed or fall, their destruction might be effected. Holes, therefore, were made, about twenty yards asunder, in some of the Dean Forest Plantations, being about twelve in each acre of ground. These holes were from eighteen to twenty inches in depth, and two feet one way, and a half the other, and they were much wider at the bottom than the top, being excavated hollow under, so that the animal, when once in, could not easily get out again. In these holes, at least 30,000 mice were caught in the course of three or four months, that number having been counted out and paid for by the proper officers of the forest. It was however calculated, that a much greater number of mice than these were taken out of the holes, after being caught, by stoats, weasels, kites, hawks and owls, and also by crows, jays, and magpies.

Nearly resembling the former, but larger, (for it is six inches long) is the shorttailed field-mouse; which, as its name implies, has the tail much shorter than the former, it being not above an inch and a half long, and ending in a small tuft. Its colour is more inclining to that of the domestic mouse, the upper part being blackish, and the under of an ash colour. This, as well as the former, are remarkable for laying up provision against winter; and Buffon assures us they sometimes have a store of above a bushel at a time.*

We may add also the shrew-mouse to this species of minnte animals, being about the size of the domestic

mouse, but differing greatly from it in the form of its nose, which is very long and slender. The teeth also are of a very singular form, and twentyeight in number; whereas the common number in the rat kind is usually not above sixteen. The two upper foreteeth are very sharp, and on each side of them there is a kind of wing or beard, like

(Shrew-mouse.)

that of an arrow, scarce visible but on a close inspection. The other teeth are

As the mice increased, so did the birds of prey, of which at last there were an incredible number. In New Forest, from the weekly reports of the deputy surveyor of the forest, about the same number were destroyed, allowing the same calculation for those eaten by vermin: and in addition to which, it should be mentioned, that these mice were found to eat each other when their food fell short in winter. Putting these circumstances together, the total destruction of mice in the two forests, would probably amount to more than 200,000.-JESSE'S GLEANINGS.

* THE HARVEST MOUSE.-This is probably the smallest of British quadrupeds, the body not exceeding two inches and a quarter in length; the weight is said to be about one sixth of an ounce. Mr. White in his history of Selborne, (a sort of work well worthy of imitation, particularly by the clergy and others, who, with the blessings of a liberal education, possess the means of local observation,) first made the species known to the public, nor indeed have we any other original account of it :

"These mice are much smaller and more slender than the Mus domesticus medius of Ray, and have more of the squirrel or dormouse colour. They never enter into houses; are carried into ricks and barns with the sheaves: abound in harvest, and build their nest amidst the straws of con above the ground, and sometimes in thistles. They breed as many as eight at a litter, in a little brown nest, composed of blades of grass and wheat. The nest is most artificially platted, perfectly round, and about the size of a cricket hall, with the aperture so ingeniously closed, that there is no discovering to which part it

belongs. It is so compact and well fitted, that it will roll across a table without being discomposed, though it contained eight little mice, which are naked and blind. As the nest is perfectly full, how could the dam come at her litter respectively, so as to administer a teat to each? Perhaps she opens different places for that purpose, adjusting them again when the business is over; but she could not possibly be contained in the ball with her young, which moreover, would be daily in creasing in bulk."-NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE.