The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-21

The killing OF the two Woodward chill
dTen by sewer rats. just reported from
Dorchester, near Boston, is an unusual
occurrence, but by no means surprising.
Indeed, the wonder is that such things do
not happen oftener, inasmUch as vermin
OF this species do rot hesitate 10 attack
human beings when they can get them
al disadvantage. 1t may fairly be said
that the gray rat, which goes commonly
by the name of sewer rat, IS one OF the
st ferocioIs of existing animals. Even
among its own kind it is 4 eannibal, the
stronger devouring the weaker. aad
large male is as much dreaded by its
fellow rodents as the most formidable
alien enemy.
This. IN fact. is very fortunate. mas
much as it helps 10 an important extent
in keeping down the number of these
pests. The minute a rat becomes sick or
is wounded, it is set upon by its fellows
and destroyed. So rapidly do the animals
propagate that food supply is always with
them an urgent problem. and hence the
sharpness of the struggle for survival.
Their numbers are limited only by the
food available for their consumption. and
If this were unrestricted in quantity. they
would sUCn Overrun the whole of the earth
in such hordes that man himself would be
obliged TO fight with them for his life.
1t has been estimated that in three years
the progeny of a single pair of these
creatures, if all born should live, would
number about S51,e0. These would weigh
as much as eighty arge elephants.
This species of rat is very different from
~, 60.
toned. 1t has only invaded the United
States within the last generation, driving
out and almost annihilating the old-fash-
toned black rats The black rats. with
big ears and long tails. have practically
disappeared from the cities of this coun-
try. particularly along the Atlantic sea-
board They were more essentially house
rats than the gray rats are. and did not
find in the sewers a chosen habitat; they
infested the floors and walls of houses
chiefly, and were of a comparatively mild
disposition. Besides. they were smaller,
weighing hardly more than half as much
as the gray rats.
Not Afraid of Cats.
In tradition and nursery-rhyme, the cat
is the most dreaded foe of the rat; but
this is hardly true where the gray species
is concerned. Indeed, the average house
hold pussy Is afraid to tackle gray rat,
and not without reason, inasmuch as the
latter is really a formidable antagonist
courageous, very active, and able TO in
fiict severe wounds. good-sized sewer
rat has been known TO daunt a good
fighting terrier, and even to stand off
ferret. its hereditary foe. in a duel in
the open. Repeatedly it has happened
u-haD
nered, and they have been known to as
sail intoxicated persons with fatal re-
suits. A story is told of a pie-baker in
London who lay in wait at night for rats
which pilfered his stock, the result being
that they ate him up.
The bite of a sewer rat is extremely
dangerous, because its teeth are apt TO
be poisoned with the putrid stuff on which
il commonly feeds. thus conveying
deadly infection 10 the wound. 1t Is sus-
pected also that these vermin carry dis
ease germs from house to house, thus
spreading such complaints as scarlet
fever and smallpox. Epidemics have
been traced to them. Recently 1t has be-
come known that the dreadful "black
or hubonic plague is due chiefly TO rats.
which acquire the disease themselves and
sr,reaa if abroad. So severe are the bites
inflicted by gray rats that valuable dogs
are rarely allowed to fight with them
Their ferocity is almost beyond descrip-
ton When several of them are shut up
together in cage the larger ones are apt
TO devour the others, nothing remaining
of the victims except the bones and tails.
Pest Was Imported.
NO have no native houserats in this
oourtrv. both of the familiar species are
;nnrorted The black rats are believed TO
49, entered Europe from Asia by way OF
Astrakhan four centuries ago, or there
..hout and the brown species followed
.ham 200 wears later. Having spread into
E,rrope. the gray rats were carried all
over the world by merchant SHIPS. Inc
black rats went 10 England with william
the Conoueror, it is asserted, and the gray
ones ACCOMPANIED the Hanoveridn cynas-
" in their voyage across the Channel
Frogs were formerly very plentiful IN Ire
land. but the rats ate them all up, so now
There are none. In Europe, as well as IN
this country, the black rats nave almost
disappeared, being driven out Dy tae gray
rodents. 1t is a curious thing 10 consider
that the rat, originating in Asia Ike man,
has accompanied him wherever ne mas
gone. even the most remote Islands Of
ancestors were fetched in ships. Appar-
emily the gray rat had its beginning in
Persia
The gray rat occupies a rather anom-
alous. vet interesting, position in relation
To man. II is, strictly speaking, para
site on man, living at his expense ard
sharing the occupancy of his dwellings
though against his viii. No animal is
hunted down with more ruthleSsneSs,
and vet with less effect. so far as the re-
duction of the species in point OF num-
hers il concerned. Numerically speaking
the human population OF the United States
! is fnconsiderable compared with the pop
ulation of domestic rats. 1t IS interesting
| 10 consider that If a sewer rat was as
large a. tiger 1t would probably be one
| OF the most formidable of existing Great
ures from our point Of view and the
/ hanting of il would be- attended presuni-
/ ably with no little danger. With its ue-
mendous activity, fierceness. and euuiIl-
ment Of teeth. il could kill men with
1 one bite.
Have Their Advantage.
| Rats are serviceabIe 10 mankind In one
way, inasmuch as they do good work az
scavenge=s, deyourng all sorts Of offal
and thus preventing the spread OF dis
| eases. /; Is said that wherever there Is a
/ good living place for a rat. there a rat
/ will be found: the occupant for the time
I being may be killed. but another will take
T It's place and so on indefinitely. After al.
4 however IL IL the limit OF fOOd-supply
+ that sets the limit on the number Of rats
+ In China, where the human population il
80 dense that even rats are utilized for
( the larier. these rodents are considered a
/ deiicacy- The Sianaese. Il is sai1. keep
I them as pets. instead Of cats in Calcutta
1 the sailors eat wharf-Fats. which are OF
( the gray species. in pOtpie and gag that
/ they are delicious.
4 From time 10 time reports are elrculat-
sd 10 the effect that large quantities 0f
( Kid gloves are made IN Paris out OF raj
/ skins-psFtIculariy the thumbs. which re-
qBire material that il thinner and more
! elastic. This notion IL entirely erroneous
I iEasmuch az the skin OF "a rat i TOO deli
{ cate for any such employment. A Welsh
/ man. some years ago. exhibited ailnself
I IN England Isl a dress made o. "a skins
( which ne had spent three years AID a
half IN collecting. His hat coat. a-aizf-