The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-06-20
THE COTTON RAT
Description of Southern Agricultural
Marauder.

Description of Southern Agricultural
Marauder.
The cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus)
Is about the size of the common ground
squirrel. The tail is shorter than the
body, and the ears are broad and
rounded. The color above is dark
yellowtsh brown; beneath, ashy. The
head and body measure six inches in
length. This Is the common wood and
field rat of the South, being found
abundantly in all the States south of
Virginia, and westward into Mexico.
ut is nocturnal species, although seen
abroad at all hours. 1t digs shallow
burrows in the ground, often twenty
five yards in length, each of which is
inhabited by single family. This rat
builds a nest of grass, or at times of
cotton-hence its name-and brings
forth from four to six young several
times during the year. The young at
tain their full growth in less than five
months. 1t runs rapidly, and is an
excellent swimmer and diver, like the
wood rats generally. This is gregari-
Gus species, large numbers being always
found near together They make beaten
paths, which may be found leading in
every direction in old fields where the
rats are numerous.
1t does little or no damage to the
planter, being more of an inhabitant of
worn-out fields and woods than of
cultivated grounds, and it is rather a
friend than an enemy of the agricul-
turist. 1t feeds upon the seeds of
various grasses, and also largely
upon animal food. Gray fish,
various insects, wounded birds and
rats and mice, all enter largely into its
dietary. 1t will kill Florida rat of
twice its size in few seconds, and so
pugnacious is it that in captivity it will
destroy and devour every rat and
mouse put into its cage, and even
weaker individuals of its own species.
1t is also very fond of eggs, and de-
stroys numbers of nests of the quail
and other birds which build their nests
upon the ground.
The cotton rat has host of enemies
to keep down its numbers, several
species of birds and mammals feeding
almost exclusively upon it in the States
in which it is common. All the car
nivOrous animals prey upon it and all
the weasels are its inveterate foes.
Hawks of many species, especially the
marsh hawk (Circus hudsonius), feed
largely upon it, and il feeds the Young
of all the large owls found in the South
ern States. This species is easily cap
tured in wire, steel or box traps; the
traps should be baited with piece of
meat, or the head of fowl, and be set
overnight; but the destruction of this
rat, except in rare instances, is worse
than useless, the animal doing far more
good than harm to the farmer. 1t
breeds readily in captivity, and becomes
tame in confinement, and familiar with
those who feed and caress it.
The Myomorpha, or rat-like rodents,
to which division both the pouched
gophers and the cotton rat belong, all
have four incisor and no canine teeth.
The gophers have four molar teeth in
each jaw, or sixteen in all; the cotton
rat has twelve molars, three in each
jaw. The incisors, two above and two
below. are coated with enamel much
more heavily in front than on any other
surface, SO that they acquire and retain
q OhAooA-1AAo OuSSS Juo oAlhDlbl III 1TOHb
wearing away less rapidly than the re-
mainder of the tooth. These teeth
grow throughout the life of the animal
and should one be lost by accident, the
tooth which played upon it above or
below continues to grow, sometimes to
the length of several inches, and so
the unfortunate animal
from feeding and causing its death.
Several specimens of various species OF
are to be found in museums.
this dental oYergrowth; in
an English collection there is an in
cisor tooth of common brown rat
(which has increased its growth up
ward to such degree that it has
formed a complete circle and seq
ment of another. The diameter of it
is about large enough to admit a good
sized thumb. "--RGlph. w Seiss, IN Cous-
Iry Gentleman.