Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-02-28
THREE HUNDRED MILLION RATS.
Residents Of the Metropolis Swarming
In Dark Observation-Disclosures and
HabitS...Procreatiye and Canibalistic
Tendencies.
New York Mercury,

population of the metropolis. Ii is im-
mense, and outnumhers three hundred
times the humsD population. When il
IS considered that thrce-months.old
rodent becomes procrcativc; that it al
ways has six IT litter; litter every
month, and, II il escapes trap, cat, poi
con and other violent death, will live
twelve years, its multitudinous progeny
appalls the arithmetic man, There are
rats Of all colors, Chamoleon-hke, their
tint depends upon their feed, Those
who thrive the hest and attain the larg-
est size iuhahit canal.hoats and docks,
where plenty OF grain is to be had.
The tenement,houso rat thriveS, gets
corpulcnt, and mul6plies rapidly; the
precautions against invasion being less
numerous amt invulnorahle than in
dwellings on Fifth avenue, and in other
localities inhabited by the rich, who
consider the rat rs au enemy and in.
trench against him hy using cement,
iron and other ways that deiy his file
like teeth.
Adolph lsaacscn, of No. 46 Fulton
street. who has made the subject OF
rats, their habits and peouliarities, n
study Of forty years, and who has train
cd them 50 that they will follow him
like dog, furnished some interesting
information To N Mercury reporter. lie
said; when full grown and of good
size and condition., u city rat will attain
II full pound III weight. And il il were
not that hunger makes rat cannibal-
isNc, SO that he feeds ON his own spc-
cies, the metropolis would bc overrnn
with rodents, and instead of numbering
billions they would be innumcrahle.
Nature has provided them with I'M
mcnse gnawing powers, So that the
hardest wood is unable to resist their
encroachmen's. Thus it happens that
their raids for food are usually success
ful, and they are not often compelled
To feed upon each other. They he
come oannihals only when hunger
drives them To il. Put u large,
well-fed rat into cage with n
u dozen smaller ill.fed onos, deprive
them of all food, and il will only be u
short time when tho old fellow will ho
the only survivor, and all there will re-
main of his companions will he u few
polished bones, United, the rats never
show any spunk, hut they always prefer
to attack singlo-hnnded. Rats being in
a room in large masses will not attack
men, bat will rush into corner and
hide themselves behind and under each
other, thus forming heap. These rats
would lvo poaocably together for any
length Of time If properly supplied
with food and water, but just IA soon as
they are out of either they will attack
each other, and show II beautiful fight.
Tho stronger will kill tho weaker ones,
drink their blood, dcvour their meat
and bones, aud leave nothing behind
but tho hair and tail, thereby sustaining
themselves on their own bodily re-
sources for u very long time. After
they have taken To such resources, the
average time until they have mutually
destroyed each other principally do
Ponds upon where they are. II IN y
house or ON board Of ship il would
take longer than if confined in cage.
When very hungry and in search of food,
they are sometimes very dangerous.
On such occasions big rat has attacked
sleeping children, or sick people, and
severely wounded thom. A rat will not
attack man unless over-hungry or ex-
cited, but when cornered has been
known To fly ut persons and fight with
!, desperation. The rat has u perfect
organ of hearing, and the least noise
will make him suspicious. However,
they may get used To noise, and rats
living III hotels, factories, etc, where
there is a constant din, are not so easily
scared as rats living in storchouse or
barn, where sound is only occasionally
heard The rat loves sweet, soft melo-
dious tones of music, and u great many
experiments have been made In tanning
rats thereby, but with only indifferent
success. The smelling organ Of the rat
is very cultivated, and by pandoring
TO their taste in this direction il is
also made possible TO allure or ex-
pell rats To or from place Just
at the will Of man. BY lattoring this
sense, in combination with tho sense
Of hearing, the rat il entirely under the
control OF his worst enemy, man. The
feeling Of the rat il one of the senses Of
which the atcatcher takes great ad.
vantage, feeling and seeing being the
least developed senses Of that animal.
In their natural wild state tho rats live
in tribes of from forty 10 sixty; in the
winter more, in the summer less. Be
ing idle or at rest they lay in one heap,
alternately below or on top, changing
their position very frequently so as 10
give each one an opportunity TO enjoy
the warm place Mt the bottom. The rat
has very peculiar taste. In case OF
great hunger anything, from the sole Of
an old boot 10 the prime rib Of d best
quality steer, il acceptable. A rat can
hardly see in the day time, and If you
meet MIN in the suns rays, you may
depend upon ii he could not see you Mt
all; but lis hearing is 40 acute it will
tell him exactly whore you are, and
warn him Of the danger. He il n near
sighted animal. In the night time he
can zee little. but not much better.
The number Of rats in the city, accord
ing 10 careful computation made by
Mr.. Isaacsen, IL estimated as follows:
There are about 1880 stores; allowing
40 rats to each would make 522, 400.
There are $500 stables. Rats abound