The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-12-19

A Chapter OH Rats--Enteresttns
Facts About the Wire.Tailed
Imps. 80
The Newark IN. j. J Sentinel Of Freedom,
furnishes the following information relative
to that repulsive animal. the rat
In the indulgence Of their prediction for
eggs, rats display great judgment. 1t would
appear almost impossible for them to carry
off such fragile spoils without breakage hut
they d. contriye to do So Iftheft is achieved
without a confederate, the rat stretches out
its fore lcg underneath the egg, steadies it
above with its cheek and hops away cautious.
ly upon three legs. To convey an egg from
the bottom to the top of a house is a still
more difficult affair. and probably an impos-
sibiity for single rat to perform. With
the aid ola partner, the operation is thus
managed. The male rat stands upon his
head, and lifts up the egg with his hind legs;
tie female taking IT thence in her fore paws,
secures it till her lord a>cends step higher;
and so they proceed from stair TO stair, till
their booty is deposited safely in their hole.
A pastry cook had some fine eggs which she
priced highly, but the number of which was
| mysteriously diminished night after night.
Suspicion, of course, fell upon the domestics.
One Of them, a maid servant, hearing one
night noise on the stairs, stole out on the
landing, fancyins she might be fortunate
enough to catch the egg pilferer. She was
not mistaken, although she was considerably
astonished at discovering who the real Of
tenders were. She saw two rats, one larger
than the other, busily engaged in carrying
the cherished eggs down stairs, and felt too
interested in watching their proceeding to
think ofdisturbing them. The big rat stood
on bis hind legs, with his fore paws and
head resting on the step above the lady
rat rolling the egg gently toward her spouse;
clasping it gently, but firmly, he lifted it
carefully on the step upon which he stood,
holding it there until she came and took
charge. of it, when he descended steplower,
till the clever pair reached the lowermost
floor with their prize uninjured.
The wholesale larceny with which the rat
is too justly charged, is criminal enough, in
all conscience, but worse remains behind
He has been known to make meal of the
fingers and toes Of living baby. Forty
years ago pie maker, finding his delicacies
unaccountably disappear, determined to lie in
wait in bis bakehouse one night, and so catch
the delinqucnts. Unfortunately, they caught
him, and devoured the unfortunate pie-man
in preference to his pies. There is one dish
that is more tempting to the rats palate than
any other, and for which he will desert any,
thing in the eatable woodland that is
defunct relative.
Should two rats agree to settle their differ
ences by mortal combat, their friends and
acquaintences look on as complacently as
distinguished amateurs contemplate fight
for the championship But imediately the
affair is concluded by the death Of one of the
combatants, the spectators break up the
ring, and incontincntly set upon the victor
and vaaquished, and eat them up then and
ia r. Noe, too to any meeting with an
accident, or becoming infirm, for he is gob-
bled up without remorse. When rats leg
is found in a trip, instead ofits being a proof
of his resolution in preferring to leave a
limb behind rather than remain ir cap;;vily.
the chances are that some of his kith and
lin have eaten him. In consequence of this
propensity for canuibalism. when Mrs. Rat
becomes mother she is obliged to hide her
offspring, lest papa, or some old gentleman
OF his acquaintance, should make his dinner
of them, which he would certainly do, if he
found them unprotected. For the same rea-
son, wise old rats retire into solitude, dis
gusted with their kind, and il attacked in
their retreat, prove desperate foes beat off
any rats, without regard to sex, that venture
to intrude on theii privacy. Anold gentleman
OF this description will keep house clearer
of vermin than any cat or dog, for he will
allow no brother near his throne. aa.
The rat can scarcely be considered a coura-
geous animal he relies more upon his cum
ming than strength, and in the presence of a
superior enemy, thinks only of escape but
ifrendered desperate by being pressed into
a corner. will turn savagely--the sewer rat
being more ferocious than his compeers.
The females breed at three months old,
live in state of polygamy, add to the vcrlnin
population five or six times in the year, and
produce eight, twelve, fourteen, sixteen, and
sometimes as many as eighteen in litter
1t has been calculated that in three years
there will spring no less than 65l 900 rats
from single pair Although this seems too
enormous number to be correct, it would
perhaps be difficult to over estimate the
numbers Of these animals. Six hundred
thousand rats were killed in Pa,is in the
short space of fortnight, merely to obtain
their skins for a manufacturer At Grenoble
5000 have met their deaths from the dogs
and men at the slaughter houses Of Mont
fancon in month. At the present time,
Marscilles IS over run with them, traps and
poison proving futile against the army of
destroycrs, who range even the public streets
with impunity the cats have oil fed in af-
fright and the only reliance of the inhabit-