Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-11-03

A CHAT ABOUT RATS.

Could the cen sus of rats be taken, it would I'M
doubtedly show that their numbers greatly exceed
those OF any other stock kept. This, too, in spite
of cats, terriers, traps, poison, and all the contri-
vances with which they are hunted, for by univer-
sal consent the rat is voted an outcass, whose life
is to be forfeited at sight, provided Y can catch
him. Other races of animals he nearly disap-
peared under like persecuiir .. To say nothing
of larger game-raccoons, grey squirrels, the
hateful rattlesnake, the copperhead, and many mi
nor creatures have long been unknown in the more
thickly settled districts. But the rat takes up his
bed and board under the very roof of his enemies,
he forages boldly in the kitchen and larder, conf
IDENTIFY rcars his young in the partition adjoining
our living rooms, and leads them forth in nightly
and right merry gambols through the wainscotiug.
The persistence Of the race is due principally
to two causes. Rats are outrageously prolific
They commence breeding at the age of three
months, and bring forth q litter of from eight to
fourteen, and even more, five or six times a year
At the ordinary rate Of increase a single pair and
their progeny, if all should live, would, in three
years, number 650,000. Truly, but for the crusade
continually carried on against them, there would,
in a few years be nothing left but rats. Another
fortunate circumstance-for them-is their easy
adoption to every kind of life. A rat is a true
COSMOPOLITAN. He can feast with q lord or with a
peasant. He revels in the tempting luxuries OF
the pastry cook, but will with equal gusto feed on
a fitch of bacon in the store-room, or a sack Of
corn in the barn, nor does he hesitate, upon good
opportunity, to attack toe chickens, the feeble
lambs, and in numerous instances even children
l.-o lo-u -o.I.IokoI - k1o,o a,;- ra,1
He is not particular, as to climate or locality-he
nibbles at the fruits of the tropics, and shares the
train oil Of the Esquimaux. There was no neces-
sity that the progenitors of the existing race
should receive special command to seek shelter in
the ark long before its completion, no doubt,
they had found snug quarters, and laid in their
~stock-every sailor will tell you that his berth in
the forecastle has been their fayoIite lurking place
You will seldom see one of thsse animals lame,
or diseased, or in any way infrm. When one is
injured by any accident, his companions fall upon
him; and kill him without mercy, and make o
complete finish of the work by eating him.. The
anxious mother has to watch, not only against the
providing cat, for the young are ~favOrite mOrsels
with the Unsuitable male, who frequently feasts up
on his own descendants.
Although the veriest coward when alone, and
when there is a chance to run, the rat when driv-
en- to a corner, or emboldened by numbers of his
own tribe, is quite a formidable enemy. The cat
will hesitate TO attack one unless she may take
him at disadvantage by s2ringing upon him ur-
awares ; several instances have occurred of an at
tack upon persons by a horde of rats, from whom
escape was made with difficulty. And it is relat-
ed of a pie baker of London, that having missed
a portion of his pastry, he one night set himself
to watch for the th'ef, aud was ovsrpowersd and
partially devoured BY Thorn.
The tools of the rat, which also serve as form
liable weapons, are four long sharp teeth; two in
the front Of the upper and two in the lower Jaw.
These are set like wedges, the outer part is cover
ed with hard enamel, the inner is a softer bony
composition. This softer part is worn away by
g%nawing, which gives q sharp cutting edge to the
front, with which the animal can readily make his
way through the hardest wood. Indeed, he must
keep gnawing from necessity; for the teeth grow
so fast, that if unemployed; they would soon pro-
trude far beyond the mouth; and become useless.
A rat was found which had lost one Of his INNER
teeth, and the lower one had continued to grow
until it had formed a curved tusk over to the side
of his ear and threatened to pierce his head.
Until within a few years, except among the
Chinese, and a few other Eastern nations, the rat
has been turned to no account. Some genius at
length discovered that the skin of the rat could be
tanned into a very pliable and fine leather, little
inferior to kid, since which the skins have, in Lon
don and Paris, we believe, a regular market value
and the capture OF these animals has become quite
a profitable business to that class Of Inhabitants
who are not above descending to the sewers, and
other ratty places, in pursuit of livelihood. We
might include also in the profit Of tho rafting bins.
; mess, the sales made to "fanoy men" who pur-
chase large numbers to train their dogs, particu.
/ larly the terrier, to destroy them-not so much 10
~exterminate the species as to afford sport to the
, rOughs who gather around the rat pits and bot
t upon the rat destroying powers of their ~favorite
dogs.
The usual mode of keeping these vermin within
: bounds, are too we'll known to need descri2tion.-
We can hardly hope to be entirely rid of them,
but a faithful cot kept in the house, and two at
the barn, will usually make the quarters too IN