The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-17
OYSTER AS RAT CATCHER
How an Unusually Wide Awake BiyaIve
Did the Trick.

An oyster as rat trap is a new role
IN which large and muscular bivaive has
recently appeared as valuable occupant
of the basement Of downtown restaurant.
In the damp and dark cellar, where this
particular oyster has made his home since
being dragged out of his damper bed few
weeks ago, and brought along to Rich
moad with a whole barrel Of less inteIf-
gent oysters, here dweIls a colony of
rats, who have eaten oysters for so many
generations that the ears Of the young
rats Of the strain have become hard like
miniature oyster smells and upon close ex-
animation their tails are found TO he
growing hard and will, no doubt. be used
DF me posteFity OF this colony of oyster
openers These discoveries Prove beyond
any doubt the remarkable influence of
habit and diet upon the physical Develop
meEt OF rats AM would be given dug con-
sideratioH at this time but for this more
UNUSUAL phenomena in nature history of
fat-catching oyster, which is to be writ
ten abcus just now.
This oyster story is voucher for by Al
bert, the colored man behind the free
lunch counter at the Commercial Hotel,
who is an authority on bivaIves not to be
disputed This oyster was a death tran
for rats. and bis operations we're In the
nature OF a revelation among those who
had always regarded oysters as old and
dead shells, containing very delicious
Inorsel, which was to be rad without any
risk to life or limb.
This oyster had a habit OF feeding lust
IS other oysters. but after he had par-
taken OF the meal and salt, mighty Door
substitute in the opinion of an oyster for
nRfFFaglac Tr1U
seas depth to his ocean-brink home. he
would usually, when not asleep, have his
shells open and notice things and his sur
roundings in the dark and mysterious
basement. Among the first things he saw
when his eyes became accustomed to the
dim light Of the strange prison were rats.
and as he noticed them eat the heart out
OF several of his silent companions when
they had been so careless as to go 10
sleep with their mouths open. he resolved
right then he would lie and wait for Mr.
Rat to come his way.
The time wasn't long before the chance
was offered, and the oyster. who had be-
come quite restless and felt the absence
of legs Fer the first time in his life
proved equal TO the occasion The rat
approached with great assurance of an
easy work, as he found his intended vie
tim With his she'll wide open Sitting
uPDAA ALo Niuu legs before Inc pedTi-llleQ
disk. Mr. Rat raised his chin, stretched
his short neck, and reached in for his
meal As he did so the oyster closed uD
on him. catching both front feet in the
clamp, and the music began. The rat
squeaied and jumped at such a lively
rate. dragging the oyster over the base
ment floor, that ALBERT" rushed iBto the
domains OF these imprisoned and probably
dumb creatures with some amaZement He
found the rat caught fast in the oysters
grip, and though Mr. Rat made an awful
squeaking noise, the oyster didn't open his
mohth
The rat had dragged the oyster to his
hole, and backed into it. but the shell
was too large to enter, and there the
prisoner was hSld.-Riehmond Times.