The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-12-07
Something Interesting About Rats.

lot eggs, rats utsplhY pTebt JuuBtnent. IL
would appear almost impossible for them
10 carry off such fragile spoil without
breakage, but they do con,rive TO 60 so.
II the theft is achieved without confed-
crate. the rat stretches out bis fore leg un-
derneath the egg, steadies il above with
its cheek, and hops away cautiously upon
three legs. To convey an egg from the
bottom 10 tho top Of the house. is a still
more difficult affair, ard probably an i'm
possibility for a single rat TO perform
With the aid OF partner, the operation is
thus managed The male rat stands upon
its head. and lifts up the egg with his hind
legs the female taking Il thence in her
fore paws, secures it ill her lord ascends
step higher and so they proceed from
stair TO stair, ill their booty is deposited
safely in their hole. A pastry cook had
some foe eggs which she priced highly,
but the number Of which was mysteri-
ously diminished night after night. Sus-
picion, OF course, fell upon the domestics,
One Of them, maid servant, hearing one
night noise on the stairs, stole out on
the landing. fancying she might be for.
tunate enough to detect the egg pilferer.
She was not mistaken, although consid-
erably astonished, at discovering who the
real offenders 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
proceedings 10 think of disturbing them.
The big rat stood on its hind legs, with
his fore paws and head resting on the step
above: the lady rat rolled the egg gently
towards her spouse; claspng il gently, but
firmly, he sifted il carefully on the step
upon which he stood. holding it there
until she came and took charge Of it,when
he descended step lower, ill 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. 10 all conscience; but worse re-
mains behind. He has been known 10
make meal Of the fingers and toes Of a
dying baby. Forty years ago a PIE.
maker finding his delicacies sunaccoun,ably
disappear, determined 10 lie in wait in his
bake house one night and catch the de-
linquents. 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 deser, anything in the eatable world
and that is, de(unct relative.
Should two rats agree TO settle their
differences by q mortal combat, their
friends and acquaintances look on as com-
placen,ly as distinguished amateurs con-
template fight for the championship
But Immediately the affair is concluded
by the death OF one OF the combatants, the
spectators break up the ring, and incon-
tinenily set upon lbe victor and van
quished, and eat them up then and there.
Woe, too. to any meeting with an acci-
dent. or becoming in6rm. for he is COB
bled up without remorse. When rat s
leg is found in trap. instead Of its being
proof Of his resolution in preferring 10
leave a limb behind rather than remain in
captivity, the chances are tina, some Of his
Iii b and kin have eaten him alive. In
consequence Of this propensity for canni-
balism. when Mrs. Ra. becomes mother,
she is obliged 10 hide her offspring, les.
papa, or some old gentleman of his &C.
quaintaGce, should make bis dinner of
them. which he would certainly do, il he
found :hem unprotected. For tho same
reason will old rats retire into solitude,
disguised with their kind /; and if attacked
in their retreat, prove desperate foes, beat
of any rats without regard TO sex, that
venture TO intrude on their privacy. An
old gentleman Of this description will keep
house clearer Of vcrmin than any cat or
dog, for he will allow no brother near his
throne.
The raj can scarcely be considered a
courageous animal he relies more upon
his cunning than strength, and in the
presence Of superior enemy, thinks only
OF escape; but, il rendered desperate by
being pressed into corner, will turn saw
agely--the sewer rat being more fero-
cious than his compeers.
The females breed at three months old,
live in c state of polygamy, add 10 the
vermin population five or six times in the
year, and produce eight, twelve, fourteen
sixteen and sometimes as many as
eighteen young in litter. 1t has been
calculated that in three years there will
spring no less than 65l 900 rats from a
single pair. Although this seems too
enormous a number TO be correct. II
would perhaps be difficult TO over estimate
the number OF these animals. 600, 900
rats were killed in Paris in the short space
OF fortnight. merely 10 obtain their skins
for couple Of manufacturers at Grenoble.
6oOO have met their deaths from the dogs
and men al ihe slsug ghterhouse OF Mont
faucon, in n month. Al the present time
Marseilles is overrun with them traps
and poison proving futile against the army
OF destroyers, who range even the public
streets with impunity the cats have fed
in alright and the only reliance Of the
inhabitants lies in the arrival Ct a cargo Of
English terriers, those little champions Of
the pit alone being Of any avail agains,
the invading host.
1T has been we'll said, that single years
oron of onrn Ia worth mnro than ALI the o0i1