The Rat; Its History & Destructive Character

James Rodwell

Description

The Rat Its History amp Destructive Character With Numerous Anecdotes By James Rodwell This book is one of the earliest published works dealing solely with the Rat, its history and natural history, and the numerous methods for its disposal. Its author states "I have studied the Nature, Fecundity, and Devastating Character of the Rat, and I have spared neither the time nor trouble in obtaining all the information within my power." First published in London 1863, the original edition is an extremely rare item. Read Country Books has now re-published it in its entirety from the original text. Its 312 pages contain twenty nine detailed and entertaining chapters:- The Different Kinds of Rats, and their Natural History. - The Unreasonable Fear of Rats. - General Characteristics. - Tame Rats. - Rats Nests. - Dietetics of Rats. - Testimonies of Writers and Naturalists. - Predatory and Destructive Habits of Rats. - Thievish Propensities. - The Destruction and Extirpation of Rats. - Wonderful Tales of Rats. - Courage, Ferocity, and Cunning of Rats. - United Attacks of Rats. - Their Natural Weapons. - Articles Manufactured from Rat Skins. - Rats as Human Food. - Whistling Joe, the Hertfordshire Sermulot Hunter and Ratcatcher. - Miscellaneous Anecdotes. - Universal Prevalence and Destructive Habits. - Fecundity of Rats. - Vermin Killers and Rat Matches. - Sewer Rats and Ratcatchers of London. - Ratcatchers and Best Means. - How Farmers should Extirpate Their Vermin. - Natures Methods. - Ratcatching and Killing with Dogs. - Trapping, and the Various Kinds of Rat Traps. - Poisoning of Rats. - Phosphoric Poisons. - etc. A final lengthy chapter gives some profitable hints on the breeding, feeding, and management of poultry, more especially the Spanish Dorking. This comprehensive and unusual book will appeal to the naturalist, Sportsman, Gamekeeper, and Historian alike. Many of the earliest sporting books, particularly those dating back to the 1800s, are now extremely scarce and very expensive. Read Country Books are reprinting these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions. These editions are republished using the original text and artwork.

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 06 août 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528769808
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE RAT.
THE RAT:
ITS HISTORY DESTRUCTIVE CHARACTER.
With Humerous Anecdotes.
BY
JAMES RODWELL,
(UNCLE JAMES).
A New Edition.
LONDON: ROUTLEDGE, WARNE, ROUTLEDGE,
FARRINGDON STREET ;
NEW YORK: 56, WALKER STREET .
1863.
CONTENTS.

I NTRODUCTION

PART I.

CHAPTER I.
THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RATS, AND THEIR NATURAL HISTORY .
The Water Vole - The Black Rat - The Albinos, or White Rats - The Brown Rat -Whence came the Brown Rat
CHAPTER II.
THE UNREASONABLE FEAR OF RATS .
The Supper Party-The Rat-match-A boy frightened out of his wits by Rats-A French-woman frightened to death by a Rat-A hazardous Practical Joke
CHAPTER III.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RATS .
Diseases and ferocious Cannibalism of Rats-Propensity of Rats for hot Blood, or a Rat-match with a Ferret-A Blind Rat led on board Ship by a Straw-A Blind Rat led into the Cabin by its Ear-Maternal Affection of Rats for their Young-A Bereaved Rat-A Rat holding on by its Teeth to a Mower s Scythe-A Stoat beaten off by a Rat-A Rat in a Gin-trap nursing its Young-Desperate Attack on a Ferret by a Rat in defence of her young
CHAPTER IV.
TAME RATS .
A Rat and a Ferret snuggling together in the Author s bosom-Wanton Cruelty to Rats-How Rats acquire Confidence in Man-Tame Rats at Siam-A Tame Rat worth Ten Sovereigns-Ten Tame Rats, the lightest of which weighed Four Pounds-A Mastiff, a Cat, a Raven, and a large Rat, all living together-A Rat sold for a Lap-Dog-Tame Rats in Japan-A Troop of Theatrical Rats-A Rat suckled by a Cat-A Cat with three legs suckling three Rats-A Piebald Rat-Familiarity of a strange Rat-Tommy the Mouse-killer-Ikey the Pet Rat-The Happy Family
CHAPTER V.
RATS NESTS, AND THE MATERIALS FOR BUILDING THEM .
The Nests of London Rats-A Rat s Nest made of a Monkey s Skin-Nest of a Musical Rat-Bloomer Rats
CHAPTER VI.
DIETETICS OF RATS .
Rats in the Larder-Fish their favourite Food-A Rat diving for Eels-An Eel-fishing Family, and their hidden Store of Fish-Rats on the Sea-coast of Scotland-Rats the Scavengers of London-The Propensity of Rats for Flesh, Fowl, Oils, Sugars, Soaps, Roots, Babies, c.-A Child s Fingers eaten off by a Rat-A Child s Toe gnawed by a Rat-A Child mutilated by a Rat-Melancholy Death of an Infant from the Bite of a Rat-A Child eaten alive by Rats-An Infant Child destroyed by Rats-A Bishop eaten by Rats-Death of a British Officer by Rats-The Leith Pieman-Mutilation of a Human Body by Rats-Rats at the Cape of Good Hope-The poor old Tortoise-Rats regaling themselves with Florence Oil-Rats and Mice skimming Milk with their Tails-Tale of a Rat-Railway Theft Extraordinary-The liking of Rats for Sugar-Rats killed by a Cheshire Cheese Trap-The Rat and the Cherries-Rats in Newgate Market, London-Dispositions of Rats
CHAPTER VII.
Testimonies of Modern Writers and Naturalists against the Rat.
CHAPTER VIII.
PREDATORY AND DESTRUCTIVE HABITS OF RATS .
A Warning to all who have Aviaries-A Rabbit Fancier in Trouble-Destruction of Rabbits and Pigeons; with Caution to both young and old Fanciers-Destruction of an Old Hen by Rats-Destruction of two sitting Hens and their Eggs-Two full-grown Ducks killed by Rats-A Rat pursued by a Hen, while running away with one of her Chickens-A dozen Ducklings stolen by Rats-A vexatious case of Destruction among Goslings-The Eggs of Geese destroyed by Rats-Destruction of Malay Fowls and Ducks-A Rat-trap baited with two or three Dead Horses
CHAPTER IX.
THIEVISH PROPENSITIES OF RATS .
Two Gold Rings stolen by a Rat-Watches stolen by Rats-The Rat and the Wedding-ring
CHAPTER X.
THE DESTRUCTION AND EXTIRPATION OF RATS .
Slaughter of 600,000 Rats in the Sewers of Paris in a fortnight-Dogstealers, c. under the guise of Ratcatchers-A real Ratcatcher-Bite of a Rat-A Ratcatcher s Contract-Every Man his own Ratcatcher-Lime versus Rats-Rat-killing Extraordinary-How to clear your Premises of Rats-A Well-attested Fact-Rats driven away by Potash
CHAPTER XI.
WONDERFUL TALES OF RATS .
How the Rats of Scotland carry Eggs-Rats standing on their Heads-Three Cannibal Rats swallowing Nine others-How Rats carry Eggs-Rats conveying Eggs down stairs
CHAPTER XII.
COURAGE, FEROCITY, AND CUNNING OF RATS .
Their Individual Courage-A Ferret beaten by a Rat-A Battle between two Magpies and a Rat-A courageous Rat-A Countryman and his Pet Rat-A Game Hen killed by a Rat-A Battle between a Rat and a Bantam Cock-Combat between a Rat and a Weasel-A Ferocious Rat-Rapacity of a Rat-A Battle between a Rat and a Ferret-The Champion Rat
CHAPTER XIII.
UNITED ATTACKS OF RATS .
Rats of the Serpentine-A Cat eaten alive by Rats-An Extraordinary Contest between Rats and Terriers-Four Prisoners attacked by Rats-Ferocious Rats
CHAPTER XIV.
THEIR NATURAL WEAPONS .
The Teeth of Rats-Rat s-tooth Thumb-rings-How Rats descend Trees, Walls, Palings, c., without falling-The Value of Rats Teeth
CHAPTER XV.
ARTICLES MANUFACTURED FROM RAT-SKINS .
Ladies Gloves-Rat-skins, Fitch, and Ermine-Rat s For used for Gentlemen s Hats-A Lady gnawing Rat-skins-Lady Rattle s French Kid Gloves
CHAPTER XVI.
RATS AS HUMAN FOOD .
Rat-eaters of China, India, c.-The British Admiral and the roast Puppy-What s in a Name?-Is a Rat a Rat, or a Kid?-Sermulot or Rat Eaters in the East Indies-Sermulot or Ground-pig Eaters of Africa-Sermulot-eaters of Naples, California, China, France, Malta, England, and the British Navy-Sermulot-eaters of Cornwall-Fried Sermulots and Sermulot Puddings-The Flesh of the Sermulot-Are Farm-fed Sermulots wholesome as Human Food, or are they not?-Is a Rat Carrion or Game?
CHAPTER XVII.
Prejudices and Antipathies
CHAPTER XVIII.
WHISTLING JOE, THE HERTFORDSHIRE SERMULOT-HUNTER AND RATCATCHER .
Joe s Dinner off broiled Sermulots-His Opinion of Sewer Rats-His Remarks on Rat-catching-His Appreciation of the Barn Owl-Whistling Joe s History of himself, and his Rat-catching Exploits-His Success in Stocking a Preserve with Game, and his Reward
CHAPTER XIX.
MISCELLANEOUS ANECDOTES OF SERMULOTS AND SNAILS .
Destruction of Birds by Sermulots-The Puffins driven off Puffins Island-Sermulots in the Zoological Gardens, Regent s Park, London-A Sermulot swallowed by two Pikes-Snail-eaters of Paris
PART II.

TO THE FARMERS OF GREAT BRITAIN, ON THE FECUNDITY AND DEVASTATING CHARACTER OF THE RAT .

CHAPTER I.
ON THE UNIVERSAL PREVALENCE AND DESTRUCTIVE HABITS OF THE RAT .
Rats in Shropshire-In Middlesex-Rat-match at Hanwell-Rat-killing in Suffolk-Destruction of Rats in London-Rat-match in a Tub-Rats in different Places and different Parts of the World-In the Hebrides-In the Islands of the Pacific-How Rats cross the Seas-Suffocating Rats on board Ship-Why Rats do not sink Ships-Cats for California-Number of Rats caught alive in one Ship-Rats and the West-Indian Mails-A Will devoured by Rats-Quantities of Biscuit and other Food devoured in the Ship Valiant -The Dutch driven out of the Isle of France by Rats-Rats in Van Diemen s Land-Rats in India
CHAPTER II.
FECUNDITY OF RATS .
Number of Rats springing from one Pair in Three Years
CHAPTER III.
DEVASTATING POWERS OF RATS, AND THEIR ENORMOUS CONSUMPTION OF GRAIN .
What Farmers lose in Corn-Loss in the shape of Bread-Rats destroy more than would keep all the Poor cf England-Peculiarities of Rats and Mice in a Rick
CHAPTER IV.
VERMIN-KILLERS AND RAT-MATCHES .
Comparative Estimates-The Napoleons of the Rat Wars-Number of Rats destroyed yearly in London in Matches and Private Practice
CHAPTER V.
THE SEWER RATS AND RATCATCHERS OF LONDON .
Jumper, the Ratcatcher of the London Sewers, and his Assistants-A Ratcatcher s Honour-A Banquet in the City Sewers-Conclusion with the Magistrates
CHAPTER VI.
Summing up Judgment against the Rat
CHAPTER VII.
RATCATCHERS, AND THE BEST MEANS FOR THE LOCAL EXTIRPATION OF THE RAT .
How to employ a Ratcatcher-Bewitching Rats-Ratcatchers-Every Man his own Ratcatcher
CHAPTER VIII.
Golden Rules for Farmers .
CHAPTER IX.
HOW FARMERS AND OTHERS SHOULD EXTIRPATE THEIR VERMIN .
Thirstiness of Rats-Cost of removing a Rick-Saving effected by removing it-Necessity of United Action among Farmers-Caution against Ratcatchers, c.-Uncle James s Infallible Rat-traps-The Barns and Granaries to be looked after-How to clear Dwelling-houses, Dairies, c. of Rats-How to tell if there are Rats in a hole-How to destroy Rats in the Hedge-rows, Ditches, and Water-side-The Drains to be looked to
CHAPTER X.
THE POLICE OF NATURE .
The Ferret-Gamekeepers Ferrets-The Polecat-The Stoat-The Weasel-A Hare killed by a Weasel-A large Cage of Bullfinches and Goldfinches destroyed by a Weasel-The Marten Cat-The Cat-Cats destroying Pigeons, Rabbits, and Chickens-The Proper Kind of Cats for Farmers-The Barn Owl-Rat-killing Dogs-Toby the Hero-The Bullterrier-The Royal Ratcatcher-The Dog Fancy-Dogs trained for Rat-matches-Tiny, the Wonderful Bull-terrier-A Hundred Pounds offered for him-His Manner of Killing-His Death-Jem, the Champion-Billy, the Ratcatcher-Rules in Rat-matches-Rat-killing in Baby s Socks-Death of the Champion-The Expense of training Rat-match Dogs-Painted Dogs-Tiny and the Baby-True Value of Rat-pitting-Perspiration and Animal Instinct-The Poacher and the Bloodhound
CHAPTER XI.
TRAPPING OF RATS, AND THE VARIOUS KINDS OF RAT-TRAPS .
Right Mode of Treating and Baiting Traps-How to Catch a grizzly old Rat-The Artistic Mode of Handling Traps-Excellen