The Sun. — 1847-06-10 (London, England)

COMBAT BETWEEN A RAT AND A FERRET. A striking proof of the sagacity, courage, and I may say reasoning powers of these animals, has been recently given me by a medical friend living at Kington. Being greatly surprised that the ferret, an animal of such slow locomotive powers, should be so destructive to the rat tribe, he determined to bring both these animals fairly into the arena, in order to judge of their respective powers; and having selected a tine large and full-grown male rat, and also an equally strong buck ferret, which had been accustomed to the haunts of rats, my friend, accompanied by his son, turned these two animals loose in a room without furniture, in which there was but one window, and the two philosophers determined to watch patiently the whole process of the encounter. Immediately upon being liberated, the rat ran round the room, as if searching for an exit. Not finding any means of escape, he uttered a piercing shriek, and with the most prompt decision took up his station directly under the light, thus gaining over his adversary (to use the language of other duelists) "the advantage of the sun." The ferret now erected his head, sniffed about, and seemed fearlessly to push his way towards the spot where the scent of his game was strongest, facing the light in full front, and preparing himself with avidity to seiza upon his prey. No sooner, however, had he approached witoin two feet of his watchful foe, than the rat, again uttering a loud cry, rushed at him with Iviolence, and inflicted a severe wound on the head or neck, which was soon shown by the blood which flawed from it; the ferret seemed astonished at the attack, and retreated with evident discomfiture ; while the rat, instead of following up the advantage.he had gained, instantly withdrew to his former station under the window. The ferret soon recovered the shock he had sustained, and erecting his head, once more took the field. This second rencontre was in all its progress and results en exact repetition of the former, with this exception, -that on the rush of the rat to the conflict, the ferret appeared more collected, and evidently showed an inclination to get a firm hold of his enemy; the strength of the rat, however, was very great, and he again succeeded, not only in avoiding the deadly embrace of the ferret, but also in inflicting another severe wound on his neck and head. The rat, a second time, returned to his retreat under the window, and the ferret seemed less anxious to renew the conflict. These attacks were resumed at intervals for nearly two hours, all ending in the failure of the ferret, who was evidently fighting to a disadvantage from the light fain,* full on his eye whenever he approached the rat, who wisely kept his ground, and never for a moment lost sight of the advantage he iad obtained. In order to prove whether the choice' of this position depended upon accident, my friend managed to dislodge the rat, and took his own station under the window ; but the moment the ferret attempted to make his approach, the rat, evidently aware of the advantage ho had lost, endeavoured to creep between my friends legs, thus losing his natural fear of man under the danger which awaited him from a more deadly foe. The ferret by this time had learned a profitable lesson, and prepared to approach the rat in a more wily manner, by creeping insidiously along the skirting, and thus avoiding the glare of light that hitherto had baffled his attempt. The rat still pursued with unabated energy his original mode of attack, namely, inflicting a wound and avoiding, at the same time, a close combat ; while it was equally certain that his foe was intent upon laying hold or, and grasping his intended victim in his murderous embrace. The character of the fight, which had lasted more than three hours, was now evidently changed, and the rat appeared conscious that he had lost the advantage he originally possessed, and, like the Swedish hero, had taught his frequently-beaten foe to conquer in his turn. At last, in a lengthened struggle, the ferret succeeded in accomplishiug his originally intended grapple; the raf, as it couscio.us of his certain ruin, made little fur ther effort of reslitafice, but, sending forth a plaintive uric k, udered his life to his persevering foe.— Jesse's Natural Nistoru.  standard