The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-28
ALL ABOUT RATS.

ALL ABOUT RATS.
According to Mr.. Darwin, there is a
struggle for existence among all living
creatures, ending in survival of the fit
test. He does not give moral meaning
to this word fittest he is speaking Of
living creatures generally, as organisms,
and of the organic qualities which enable
them to fight their way in the world.
Naturalists say that this struggle and this
survival are unquestionably true in re-
gard to rats. The two principal kinds
known are the black and brown, the lat
ter being the more powerful of the two.
Both entered Europe from Asia, the
black about four centuries ago. The
brown is also known as the Norway rat
and the Hanoverian rat the latter a
name sarcastically given by the Jacobites,
under the belief that the brown rat and
the royal family of Hanover reached Eng
land about the same time. The brown
has waged relentless war against the
black, until the latter has almost disap-
peared from some localities. This dis
appearance, or lessening in number, is
also due in part to the black rat finding
his home In roofs, thatch, and old build
ings, where rat-terriers and rat-catchers
can get at him whereas his brown rival
has greater love for drains, sewers, and
underground retreats, difficult of access.
When some of the slums of ST. Giless
were pulled down to make way for New
Oxford street, colony of black rats was
found in many of the wretched tene-
ments, driven up from the sewers by the
victorious browns. The keeper Of
Happy Family cage had few of them,
and sold them occasionally for high prices
to naturalists, who valued them solely
because they are rare-as collectors are
very apt to do. A few black rats still
exist in old houses in London, among
the roof-rafters ; but they are very few.
The brown rat is famous trencher-
man. Nothing comes amiss to him.
Corn, the ofal of slaughter-houses,
cheese, soap, candles, bacon, eggs, jam,
pastry, butter, oil, boots and shoes, lev
erets and other small game, all serve him
when hungry. But, sad to relate, he is
also a cannibal he eats his own species.
When two rats fight, the one killed and
the other sadly mutilated, the spectator
rats set to and eat them both. A lame OF
decrepit companion shares the same fate.
Mrs. Rat is obliged to conceal her little
ones for time, lest papa or his friends
should make meal OF them. On one
occasion in France, twelve rats were shut
up in box; the result was nearly as
marvellous as the fate of the celebrated
Kilkenny cats ; for when the box was
opened, only three rats remained.
Even human beings are not quite free
from danger. The fingers and toes of
babies, lying peacefully in their cradles,
have been eaten off by rats. Once an in
fant's face was obliterated by similar
means and Eve record it with less
regret) the toes of a drunken man dis
appeared through like agency. About
four years ago Coroner's inquest, re-
ported in the Times, brought to light
sad tale. Between Highgate and Horn
sey, an old house had lost a respectable
tenant on account of it's being infested
with rats. A new tenant out all day on,
business, and his wife out temporarily.
three children were left at home in bed.
On the mothers return, she found the
bed stained with blood one child had
wounds in the head and under the eve
lids, and hole eaten through the cheek
she died three days afterward ; an elder
child was bitten in the throat
Mr.. Rat displays good deal of inge-
nuity in working out some Of his plans
He can carry away eggs without break
ing them he stretches out one foreleg
under the egg, steadies it with his cheek,
and hops away cautiously on the other
three legs. Two of them, working to-
gether, have been known to carry eggs
up stairs one standing upon his head
lifted an egg high up on his hind feet
his confederate, standing on the next
step above, took the egg, and held it I'm
til the acrobat had come up after which
the same process was repeated again and
again. A pastry-cook once found that
his eggs disappeared in mysterious way;
an investigation showed that rats made
off with them, down stairs instead of up.
A big rat stood on his hind legs, with his
forepaws and head resting on the step
above; a smaller rat rolled an egg gently
to the proper spot the big fellow seized
it firmly but carefully in his forepaws,
and brought it down ; and SO on step
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