Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-10-26
GREAT ARMY OF RATS.
About 100000 a Year Born, in
WASHINGTON.

Although Washington is the clean.
est city in America, census of rats
would show that the National Capi-
tai has about as many of these pests
as any sister city.
1t is said the conditions there are
peculiarly adapted to the preserva-
ton and multiplication of rodents,
and there are merchants around
Center Market who are willing to
make affidavit that there are rats
there fully twenty years old, which
have thwarted every effort to EXTERN
mate them. The rat probably has
more enemies than any other animal
on earth. It's prosecutors come in
the form of poison, traps, cats, dogs,
ferrets, and men. Some or all of
these agencies are at work constantly,
and yet the Washington rat thrives
and raises large family.
Rats are repulsive at best, aud
nearly everybody is afraid of them,
especially the great gray fellows.
which seem to have taken possession
of some sections of the city. These
rodents put up bold fight when
cornered, and they are cruel l-toothed,
sharp-eyed creatures. He is By
nature true gamin-sharp, cunning,
and, when necessity requires it, bold
and fearless, fighting men and dogs
alike. There is no question but that
the Norway or wharf rst-the big
gray one-drove off and killed the
small black rat which was so com.
mon throughout the United States
two decades ago.
When rat is attacked he will try
to scanper out of the way of his
enemy. but if he sees successful re.
treat is out of the question, then hs
tries to put up winning fight fol
liberty. Rats have been known tc
attack human beings in many in.
stances where they were not first as
saulted. Large rats often are made
bold through force of numbers and
hunger. And, too, the large gray
rat is a cannibal, the male rat not
hesitating, when hungry, to make q
meal off his young. This, however,
he never does without frst having a
battle with the mother rat, who al.
ways fights for the babies. 1t is only
the male rat which is given to canni-
balism. A Louisiana avenue CON-
mission man says that about the
fiercest battle he ever witnessed be-
tween animals was a few weeks ago,
when he saw an old gray rat kill a
young one. The mother rat inter
fered, and for fifteen minutes the
two rodents engaged in combat
which for ferocity would rival almost
anything ever seen in the arena. A
large crowd of men and boys gathered
around the fighting rats, but their
presence did not stop the battle, aud
it was not ended until one of the rats
was killed by the other, the mother
rat receiving bite in its throat which
resulted In almost instant death.
The gray rat sends forth three
broods year to begin their predatory
existence. Each family numbers
ten babies, and frequently exceeds
sixteen. Taking twelve nestlings al
the average family, each good, healthy
pair of whiskered gray rats will
present to the world each year thirty
six of their kind. Now, on a basis
of 100000 pairs of rats-and thai
is low estimate, according to com
mission men-it will be seen thai
each year there is added to the ra
population of Washington IL, ,0OO, ,OO(
young rodents.
In the face of these figures, i
ceases to be surprise that poisor
aud cats and other things can
not entirely do away with tn
city's rat pest. Perhaps, too, it is
matter of congratulation that tn
cats and other rat enemies do tn
work as we'll as they do, otherwis
the rat army would not content itsel
with commissariat of bread, meat
cheese, vegetables, and other things
but would turn aud subsist on ,
citizen himself.
: There are some healthy yarns spur
; by the market and commission mel
about rats in that vicinity. One j
to the effect that rat was seen t
use his tail as a food provider. Al
uncorked Jug of molasses had beel
D left sitting near door leading to
: cellar. Through a door two rat
, were seen to approach the jug, an,
e one of them climbed to the top of
: and dropped his tail into the vessel
After little time he drew it on
aud it was covered with goodl
share of molasses for two inche
n from the tip. He hoped down O
:. the Jug and he and his mate licke
Q the sweet from the tail. This wa
e repeated several times before thei
hunger for something sweet wa
appeased.
Rats send out sentinels to sign,