Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-09
rTE tFaon tAs Aneri-an AgrieSi'ur-iis
Chapter on fEats.

- - Btst VI
The habits OF verDin arc almost Il not quite
as important subjects OF study az those OF more
valued live stock; and come statements derived
in part from n professional rat-catcher, who he's
made a Iife-busibers OF studying the vulnerable
points of rats 80 that be can flank the enemy,
storm and take his strongholds. and economi
eaIly maintain his prisoners alive. may be OF
much practical value TO the readers OF The AZ
ricniturist.
The common brown rat is the Nus Domestlcus.
L. appeared In this country about the period OF
our revolutionary war. aud has increased with
great rapidly. having almost. If not entirely eI-
terminated the black rat (M.ratts,) which was
common before and which smaller and DOT so
sharp q fghfer. The brown i the only proper
raj OF the north but at the south two species are
not uncom non-the Florida white bellied rat
snd the cotton rat; and IN Mexico and TEXAS we
fod the roof rat. living in thateb. etc and the
Mexican or bush rat.
These ell breed yery rapidly. but none more
thsn the common They begin 90 breed
ct two or three months old. and will have six or
eight litters a year. Of eight young each on
aver.ge. uoder favorable circumstances. males
snd females being about equally divided. Were
there NO natural hBdrsnces 10 their multiplica-
ton. angle pair would Increase 10 no less than
$3.50 in single year. and this, If they breed
only once in two months. There ia. however,
sale, fOF not only will rats devOGr the weakly
and sick Of their companions soon they are
uuatle 10 defend themselves, bu. II very hard
pressed, as they doubtless often arc. they will
eat their young. The destruction by cats. dogs,
aud men is general thing inccDsiderabe
The very happy results often attributed 10 the
use OF cats aud dogs. are usually due tn the rats
having multiplied so as 10 overstock the prem
ises at the time their foes are introduced, when
fhnsr in
families. 10 other localities.
The rat il eminenlly social animal aud short
commons. or any cause OF especial discomfort
or strange noises, az the CRY Of Guinea hens,
perhaps the discharge Of FIRE arms. or q wide
awake terrier will cause a stampede IL is this
trait which makes the effect Of the PHOSPHORUS
paste so efficient. Comparatively few rats are
poisoned. but their actions alarm the others, and
when the poisoned ones run away il brings on a
general flight, that often a single il
left The~east amount Of food which will sus
tain rats may be very accurately estimated, but
not all they will eat il they can. In this city
great numbers OF rats are kept Tor the purpose
Of biiling dogs in pits" similar 10 those used
for cock aud dog fighting These fed only
just enough TO keep them from killing and eat
ing one another anil il Is found that one hun
dred will live one bushel Of sound corn =
week, il feed with great care at two feelings =
day. will hring them through. aud wheat rye
will go iarther than corn. When rats have their
- full swing" at corn in the bin or grain ia the
NOV. then The quantity they will cat is limited
by Their ospaciy yet they vill cary away
great deal, besides damaging and gnaring much
more.
Suppose there are era 900 rats on farm
AID this Is no extrsvagaut superstition. During
the time when they cannot get much in the field
they will consume ten bushels OF corn, or il,
equivalent. per week. Calling this Period foul
months, the amount consumed il 10 bushels
which. even at 75c. per busnel. comes 10 Sl75l2
This loss IS not apparent: for il Is not all corn
but il is hay seed. buckwheat. oats. pig feed
chickens. etc. and thus divided around il i
overlpoked. The number OF rats in anv singl,
locality Is almost always under estimated The,
live IN families. and send out scouts AID spies
uhich are the only rats seen. unless great Dain
be. taken. aud a person remain quietly on tn,
watch from early in the evening. so that he i
neither seen DOR heard. Then they are OTTER
seen Ia scores. and often fierce battles are wit
messed. The rat does not see very well 0y day
being nocturnal animal but bis hearing AMI
eense OF smell are very acute A rat will neve
jump higher than about thirty inches. but vii
climb rough walls, posts, etc.. easily.