The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-08-02
The Rats in Brazil.

From time to time in all parts Of Brazil
the plantations arc subject to the depreda-
tions Of armies Of rats, that issue from the
forests and consume everything edible that
comes in their way. During recent ex-
cursion in the province of Parana Mr..
Derby found an almost universal lack Of
corn throughout the province, due to such
invasion Of rats, by which almost the en-
tire crop Of last year had been destroyed.
This invasion, or plague, as il is called, is
said to occur at intervals Of about thirty
years, and to be simultaneous with the
drying Of the td9udrd, or bamboo, which
everywhere abonnds in the Brazilian for
ests. The popular explanation is tfat
every cane Of bamboo sprouts with grub
and the germ ofa rat, within it, aud that,
when the bamboo ripens and dies, the
germ becomes fully developed rat, and
comes out to prey upon the plantations.
An educated and observant Englishman,
Mr.. Herbert IL. Mercer, who has resided
a number Of years in the province, and
had an opportunity Of studying the phe-
nomenon, furnished Mr.. Derby with the
following rational and curious explanation
The bamboo arrives at maturity, flowers
and seeds at intervals Of several years.
which doubtless vary with the different
species The period for the species most
abundant in Parana is 30 years The pro.
cess, instead of being Simultaneous, oceu-
pies about five years, few Of the canes
going 10 seed the first year, an increased
number the second, and so on progress
sively, till finally the remaining and larger
portion Of the canes seed at the same
time. Each cane hears about peek Of
edible seed, resembling rice, which is very
fat and nourishing, and is often eaten by
the indians. The quantity produced 4
enormous, aud large areas are often coy
cred to depth Of Eve on six inches After
seeding, the cane dies, breaks OF at the
roots and falls to tho ground, the process
Of decay being hastened BY tho borines Of
larya which live upon the bamboo and np-
pear to be particularly abundant about
seeding time. These larra have doubtlevs
given rise to the story Of the grub deyel-
oping into a rat. New canes spring M
from the seed, but requires seven or eight
years to become iit for use, and thirty 10
reach maturity. With the sudden ana
constantly increasing supply Of nonrishine
food for period OF Eve years, the rals and
mice, both Of native aud imported species.
increase extraordinarily 10 hnmbors. The
ieenndity Of these animals Il well known.
and the result, after four or Eve yeass Of
an unusual and constantly increasing sun.
Ply Of excellent food and in the n6senee
Of enemies Of equal fecundity, can readily
be imagined. The last or The crop of seed
being mature and fallen to the Ground
the first rain causes il to decay X tbe
space Of very few days. Tho ra,s. sud.
denly deprived Of food, commence q mi.
CRATE, invading the plantations aud houses
and consuming everything that does BOT
happen to be repugnaut to the not esys
iastldiona palate Of furnishing sodso1
Il this happens AZ the time Of corn. .slanl.
ing, Tho seed IS consumed a ihSl as L en-
BE- put into the ground Iheimzndio1n i
dug un, the rice crop, II 4 heppc1s Is be
newly sown or 10 seed, i Consumed. ss ie
also everything II ne houses Is ~ wv
Of pr9Fisions ahd leather, It Hs' carefully
! guarded ii lid lfnnks Anf.ler