The sun., 1919-08-24

ing animal. and by preference lives
and breeds in excavations. In the ma.
joritS of instances the burrows extend
from one-half to ono foot, hut they
have been noticed passing beneath
walls two feet deep. This, however, ia
rare"
Continuing, the pamphlet recites
The brown rat apparently burrows
with greatest ease, even in the hardes
grounds, such as we'll packed ella,
The same species will pass through
walls made of brick or irregular stone
provided the mortar is not compose
of cement. Observations have beeu
made of places where Norway 70,
has perforated walls In which the cor.
struction was OF sun dried brick, held
together by sand and lime mortar. II
some instances the rat run actuah
pierced the body of the brick, a
smooth bevelled hole having been pro.
duced. The English Plague Commits
sion has accredited the Norway rat
with the ability to gnaw through brick
or concrete. Instances have been notice
where rat has been able to gnaw a.
hole in slate, and lead pipe Is not In
frequently perforated by its attack
These rats have been known TO swim
half a mile in an open bay. They car
climb ropes, wires or trees and cal
make a broad jump of two feet Or
more.
The black rat and the roof TT. hay"
kindred habits, but the first prefers a.
urban and the latter rural environ.
Jnent. The black rat ordinarily doe
not burrow, but lives in hollow wall,
garrets or loose material such Q,
empty boxes, barrels or any rubbish
and within buildings frequents the up
per stories and the roof, away from ~
enemy, the brown rat, and climb
pipes, wires and the exposed uprights
with the greatest facility. It's agility
is remarkable. and 1t has been Oh
served when attempting to escape 70
run UP n bare brick wall 10 a heigh'
of six feet. An empty iron can OF two
feet IN depth is not sufficient to r-tsir
the black rat.
The Norway rat, l. p. the brown ra'
is not at all choice in It's preference
for food. II will cat anything tn
black rat. however. is more select m
its taste, and IS n poor scsvens.r
| Because OF the way in which thes'
rats master difficulties standing ~
their paths when seeking food o..
places OF security, It Is essential thai
the measures employed TO exclude them
shall be sufficient.
The United States Public Heaith
| Service has just issued the Ave FOL
lowing collective steps which should
be taken to rout the rat:
| BY starving him, through The use O.
rat proof receptacles for food and COZ
cred metal garbage cans
BY deprivinG him of breeding p'a
I through the abolition ~ plank'
yards and passageways.
BY refusing him admission IN -
comfort of your buildings through r
proof construction ana screened na"
ment openings.
Fly killing him az every oppor'unit'.
/ BY demanding city anti-rat ord
nances and state anti-gat laws.
Mono of these things are 'mpn'hpe
. of attainment; and rat pro0tinE "hHh
carried out thoroughly, is in no 'ens'
| prohihtively expensive, and is near.
always effective. As has been prove"
rtuestedly, rats will migrate VI inc
own Volition when their food ta!i
The Wholesale shifting u :helr haol'"'
has occurred here repeated" sh'
enormous armies of them hnv" 'o
observed moving overland during W
might time in search for new SOURCE
of sustenance.