THE BITERS BIT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 12

THE BITERS BIT

RAT-CATCHING OATS THAT DIE RRCW ENEMY POISON, "lhe people of Witfham, Essex, are greatly conccrncd about the A mortality of cats within the town. It is said that at least a hundred have passed away within the ladt week or two. This" mortality is a social inconvenience, for Witham is a happy homo of tho domestic rat, and tho cats are the polico who _koi>t this hungry and lawless community in order. In the High' street houses and shops stretch in a line for a quarter of a mile, and from one end t.n the other the rats have established a right, of way. By niglrt they scamper in platoons above the ceiling in search of exercise and food. "You hear the scuttering all nifjht long/' say the residents, "hut in time you pet so used to it tliat you feel lonely when it stops." Tho rat-hunting cats arc of famous local strains. They would l not win prizes at the Crystal Palace, but thdy can catch rats. One grand old tabby on an eligible " pitch lias been known kill six or seven well-nourished rata in the course of a night. It is a deadly war and the rats are employing methods not sanctioned hv the Convention of Geneva This is their desperate scheme: Certain of tlui townsfolk have taken to putting; down poisoned food, and the rats eat, tho food, come nut and' .squeal, and the nats oatch, kill them, become in footed with the poison, and die. At. the present rate the cats will be exterminate?! before the rats.