these cases in the poorer parts of Manchester. The damage the Rats will
do in the silk and similar trades, to the goods of merchants, or in the
grocery business, is enormous, and not so much by reason of what they
actually eat as by what they carry away, which is often ten times as much
as they eat. I have often proved this when ferreting at a wholesale
grocery warehouse. When we have taken up the boards between the laths
and plaster we have found the ceiling almost full of lump sugar, nuts,
candles, etc., which have been there for years, hoarded by the Rats. Now,
this all means heavy loss, and that is why I say that any business man so
suffering ought to engage the services of a professional Rat-catcher once
a year in order to keep the Rats down, and catch as many as possible
before they begin breeding.

Another Rat habit may be noticed where the Rodents are accustomed to have
their holes and runs among flags and stones. If they find any soft wood
such as pine or white deal, they will nibble at it until it is eaten
through. I have often known them to eat right through the legs of tables
in the middle of cooking kitchens. This, I think, they do simply to keep
their teeth clean and in order; I have known half-grown Rats to do the
same.

Rats can exist a long time on herbage, if they can get nothing more
palatable. It is a very common thing to find Rats in the rabbit burrows
when ferreting; in fact, I have seen, not once, but many times, Rats,
rabbits, and weasels all bolt from the same burrow. I have also
unearthed a Rat and a rabbit together out of one single burrow.

Now as to keeping Rats in store cages at home. Look well after them, and
I think it is possible to keep them alive for quite a year; but if you
keep, say, 20 in one store cage and neglect their feeding,, you will find