Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-06
the roof rat The two forms inter-

MiprationS Of rats have often beer
recorded. Pallas narrates that in the
autumn Of 1927 the brown rat arrived
at Astrakhan in southern Russia from
the east in such numbers and in sc
short a time that nothing could be
done to oppose them. They crossed
the Volga in large troops. The cause
of the migration was attributed to ar
earthquake, but since similar move
ments of this species often occur un-
attended by earth disturbance 1t Is
probable that only the food problem
! was involved in the migration which
first brought the brown rat to Europe
In nearly all countries a seasonal
movement of rats from houses and
barns to the open fields occurs In
spring, and the return movement takes
place as cold weather approaches. The
movement Is noticeable even In large
cities.
More general movements OF rats Of
ten occur. In 1903 a multitude OF MI
grating rats spread over several coun-
ties of western Illinois. They were no
ticed especially in Mercer and ROCK
Island counties. For several years
prior to this invasion no abnormal
numbers were seen, and their coming
was remarkably sudden. An eyewit-
ness to the phenomenon informed the
writer that as he was returning to his
home by moonlight he heard general
rustling in the field near by, and soon
a vast army of rats crossed the road
in front of him, all going in one direc-
ton. The mass stretches away as far
as could be seen in the dim light
These animals remained on the farms
and in the villages Of the surrounding
country, and during the winter and
summer Of 1904 were a veritable
plague. A local newspaper stated that
between March 20 and April 20, 1904
f. u. Montgomery Of Presumption, Mer-
Ger county, killed 3,4S5 rats on his
farm. He caught most Of them In
traps.
In 1877 a similar migration occurred
into parts of Saline and Lafayette
counties, Mo-, and in 1904 another came
under the writer's observation in Kan
sas river valley. This valley for the
most part was flooded by the great
freshet Of June, 1903, and for about
ten days was covered with several feet
of water. 1t is certain that most Of the
rats in the valley perished in this
flood. In the fall Of 1903 much Of the
district was visited by hordes of rats
which remained during the winter, anu
by the following spring had so in
creased in numbers that serious losses
of grain and poultry resulted.
No doubt the majority Of the So
called migrations of rodents are In
reality instances of unusual reproduc-
ton or of enforced migration owing to
lack Of food. In England a general
movement of rats inland from the
coast occurs every October. This IL
closely connected with the closing OF
the herring season. During the fish,
ing the rodents swarm to the coast
attracted by the offal left from clean
ing the herring, and when this food
supply fails they hasten back to the
farms and villages.
In South America periodic plaques
of rats have taken place in Parana'
Brazil, at intervals of about thirty
years, and in Chile at intervals Of from
fifteen to twenty-five years. These
plaques in the cultivated lands follow
the ripening and decay Of the domi-
nant species Of bamboo in each coun-
try. The ripening Of the seed furnish
es for two or more years a favorite
food for rats on the forests, where the
animals multiply greatly; when this
food fails they are forced to the cul-
tivated districts for subsistence. In
1878 almost the entire crops OF corn,
rice and mandioca in the state of Par
ana were destroyed by rats, causing
a serious famine.
An invasion of black rats in the
Bermuda Islands occurred about the
year 1915. In a space of two years
they had increased so alarmingly that
none of the islands were free from them
The rodents devoured everything which
came in their way-fruit, plants, and
even trees-so that for two years the
people were destitute of bread. A law
was passed requiring every man in
the island to set twelve traps. In spite
of all efforts the animals increased
until they finally disappeared with a
suddenness which could have resulted
only from pestilence.-Biologic
Survay Rulletin az