Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. ae ie. " Bi ae DAs Ba |. a ue oe ba = " gry tt : 0 a oe XK = ae 4 = Fee ee Pe J Saas Ste = : - = eae 33 S : Issued May 29, 1909. é ; = a U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE —— = P=. -AVOLOGIOAL, SURVEE —BULERTIN: No, 3. 2 2 By CHART: MERRIAM, Ohief > ee ae THE BROWN RAT IN THE | UNITED STATES. 2 @ if A U ZEBRAR® : oS VY RECEIVED < BY | x JUN18 1948 a} | ES E ; = a be se ea ; 3 S af = : DAVID E. LANTZ ; a er ete ch 2s ASSISTANT, BIOLOGICAL SURVEY = ; Rete hes ae — x <2 5 , 53 e : f i “5 WASHINGTON: 1. NS ee _ GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE oa a en Se se he ee eS ane Bul. 33, Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. PLATE l. FIG. 1.—BROWN RAT. Fig. 2.—BLACK RAT- [From skins. One-third natural size.] Issued May 29, 1909. tes DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY—BULLETIN No. 33 C. HART MERRIAM, Chief Te BROWN RAT IN THE UNITED STATES | BY DAVID E. LANTZ ASSISTANT, BIOLOGICAL SURVEY a W ASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 197019 Pe es Re OU AReACN SN ilies Aude UNITED StTaTEs DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, Washington, D. C., January 28, 1909. Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on the Brown Rat in the United States, by Prof. David E. Lantz, and to recommend its publication as Bulletin No. 33 of the Biological Survey. The rat is believed to be the worst mammalian pest known to man. Not only does it damage property to the extent of many mil- lions of dollars annually, but to this pecuniary loss must be added the still greater harm it inflicts by the dissemination of the dreaded plague and other diseases. Boards of health of many maritime cities in this and other countries are now engaged in an active campaign against rats, but thus far without very gratifying success. In Japan, where the Government is awake to the seriousness of existing con- ditions, the number of rats destroyed annually, according to Pro- fessor Kitasato, varies ‘‘from several hundred thousand to a million. Nevertheless at the present day no appreciable diminution in the num- ber of rodents can be noticed. Reproduction keeps pace with de- struction, so that we are at a loss to know how to proceed.”’ In order to secure effective cooperation it is Important to impress on the public the need of concerted and sustained effort, and particularly the necessity of depriving these noxious animals of the lavish supply of food and shelter now unwittingly furnished them. In this con- nection it 1s believed that the present bulletin will prove helpful. Respectfully, C. Hart Merriam, Chief Biological Survey. Hon. JAMES WILSON, Secretary of Agriculture. a id ae ace er, COUNT EeNoles: Distribution of thecenus Mus im America! =... 3.2 J. 22 een ee se ee EM ShOnygOMmiinesOLOWM rates Sa sete teri. ocr ate ae eye 2 Ope ale ie eee Genecraledeseni pioneer nmmen saris cai Oe 2 e 2s Wee Neu aaah we PAUNUITT Ga TLC CLONAL LS weir oe ter eee. he 5106 OU BR SRR ve ON Lait l Tats seg ee par ey ee ee hy bead Os Sones tote aon Ds Benue ees SKC Calli oem Maen ee ee eer nd eS he ee wiae cee ay eee eee See Miorations andaimvaslonsryar aioe fo) eer fon oye cae. og oe ey POCO! CH MAUS oc ok OR Oe BEE G2 Site a ae een Ce ee et gre ear ae te bole [DYN NGNERSY | OST ARENAS SoS les ates el a a es OVP ch TT Grou S ere gee Meee eg EM Soe se SS aida. Gre sin fave Weer ales Ses Se Me IPOMlinygandger Osh anata teem el CG Sk Ln eee en shies ee Ganaeran GeocMera pind Sie mare an eee a ore eee a ad eater meee ica All Oe RUIbS nee et ales tweens cere ar aay aa oa yo UL ye eo See a Merchandise im: stores amd; warehouses.) 2 2.0.4.. 5.25. enon oe eee Eilowmerspari cg loullllo seen ase teen ars ar a on IE oA cae ene th ae Rinesreause diglyaratsis