Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-10-13
A Chapter on Rats.

try of the world, says the New York
Mail and Express, are exterminated
at the expense of much loss and trou,
bic, and yet there is book published
on the subject of rats and ferrets, the
ferret being the natural enemy Of the
rat, and consequently being naturally
included in any remarks which may
be made about rats.
Rats are divided into three classes
the black, the brown and the water
varieties. The most common variety
is the brown rat, which was originally
brought from Norway to this country
about 1775. Before this time the indi-
genous black rat had things all his
own way in this country, but the I'M
ported rat rapidly exterminated the
home product. The original black
rat is practically extinct, whereas the
brown rat is found everywhere. This
is because the brown rat is the larger
and holder and most ferocious.
That the rats in previous times We're
considered quite as great a nuisance
as they are at present Is witnessed by
the fact that there was in England an
official rat catcher to the king, This
individual was usually a gypsy and
wore a scarlet coat, embroidered in
yellow worsted, with figures Of rats
destroying wheat sheaves. He also
carried heavy staff surmounted by
the insignia of his office, which he al
ways bore while taking part in royal
pageants. He also had an attendant,
who took no part in the professions,
but who did the main part of the work,
and was munifcently rewarded by the
princely wage Of twopence month.
The rat is essentially a social animal,
and he habitually herds with his kind.
In the cold weather a whole colony Of
rats, composed usually of about sixty,
sleep together in a heap for mutual
warmth, and they change from the
bottom to the top Of the heap in order
to give each rat chance at the warm
spot at the bottom. This unsel6sh-
ness, however, does not exist when
the rats are hungry. Then they eat
each other. If the mother rat does
not get enough to eat she eats her
young. Rats also eat their dead and
infrm, which accounts for the fact
that sick rats are never found at large.
Where a number of rats are confined
in cage it is no uncommon occur
renee for all the rats except one to
combine and kill and eat one ill-fated
companion.
The multiplying capacity of rats is
prodigious. A writer has calculated
that from a single pair Of New York
rats there will spring, in three years,
100000 descendants.
There is practically nothing which
a rat will not eat or drink. They will
drink all kinds of liquor, and are par
ticularly fond of oil, and it makes no
difference to the rat whether whatever
he eats or drinks is fresh or not. In
fact, he rather prefers decaying meat
and stale drink. All rats are inebri-
ates, and get as drunk as they can
whenever possible. In the breweres
they lie around in drunken heaps, and
are consequently easily captured
Those who have eaten rats say that
they are pretty good food and taste
not unlike rabbit.
As has been said, the ferret is the
natural enemy Of the rat, and seems
to have been created for the sole pur.
pose Of exterminating the tribe. Fol
this purpose the ferret is eminently
fitted by nature. Both in head and
body the ferret is Aexibility itself, and
he can go anywhere that rat can. A
ferret is a cross between a mink, q
martin and polecat.
The ferret is a comparatively DO
mesticated animal, and will readily
become attached to its owner, but ii
is very treacherous little animal, and
when irritated will bite even the per-
son by whom it has been accustomed
to be fed. When bitten by ferret
the hand should never be withdrawn
The moment ferret feels whatever
he has bitten resisting, he instantly
fastens upon it with the tenacity of &
wise, and in order to make ferret
give up its hold it is frequently neces
sary to cut its head off.
Ferrets not only kill rats, bat they
eat them. A ferret will devour al
entire rat, including skin and tail
which carnivorous quality marks his
chief usefulness. The ferret does moi
kill the rat in the wall and ther