In the matter of food, both the Rats are omnivorous, and it is, therefore, useless to attempt to give a list of substances acceptable to them. Fish, flesh, fowl, or vegetable, crustacean or mollusc--anything that can be digested--is eaten by them; and if all else fails they will eat their own kin. In this matter the Brown Rat, from his superior size and ferocity, has the advantage, as is emphasised by an incident told by a professional rat-catcher to Frank Buckland. He said that having had a successful haul in infested premises he had turned all his captures both Black and Brown into a large wire cage, intending to have a little sport next day with a few cronies and a terrier or two. To his astonishment next morning all the Black Rats had disappeared and only the Brown--or some of them--remained. [Illustration: _Pl. 62._ _G 96._ *Black Rat.* Epimys rattus.] [Illustration: _Pl. 63._ _H 97._ *Brown Rat's Nest.* This litter of eight is a medium number.] A sub-species, the Alexandrine Rat (_Epimys rattus alexandrinus_), with brown back and dusky underside, is frequently introduced with shipping from North Africa, and has been recorded from Lundy Island and Shetland. Another sub-species, the Tree or Roof Rat (_E. rattus frugivorus_), common in the Mediterranean region, often appears in our ports. It has long, soft and dense fur, of light grey or brown on the upper parts and whitish below (pure white to pale yellow), and the feet usually white above. The Black Rat is more of a climber than a burrower; more cleanly in its feeding than its brown rival. The pink-skinned young are born without fur, sight, or hearing. *Brown Rat* (_Epimys norvegicus_, Erxleben).