Book excerpt: Originally published in the early 1900s, this extremely rare early work on the Rat is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have now republished it, using the original text and illustrations. The author was an acknowledged expert upon pests and their extinction. He was also a member of the London College of Pestology and was instrumental with others in placing a "Bill for Rat Destruction" before Parliament in 1908. This important book on Rats and their control, consists of one hundred and seventeen pages containing seventeen Detailed chapters and a number of vintage illustrations: History of the Rat. Species of Rats, Voles and Mice. Description of Same. The Domestic Mouse and How to Deal with It. Habits of the Rat, and its Fecundity. Waste of Food, and Damage Caused by Rats. The Rat as a Carrier of Disease and a Menace to Health. Natural Enemies of the Rat. The Rodier System. How to Kill Rats. Stopping. Flooding and Smoking. Ferreting. Trapping. Poisons. Bacterial Cultures. Rats on the Estate, Farm, and in Outbuildings. Rats in Shops, Factories, Warehouses and Dwellings. Rats in Sewers. Rats on Board Ships. Suggested Measures. Deratisation. Also retained are numerous original adverts for Traps, Poisons, Rat Lime and Rat Varnish, Baits and other requisites for the destruction of the rat. This is a fascinating read for any pest control enthusiast or naturalist historian, with much of the information remaining practical and useful today. Many of the earlier Natural History and Rural books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. READ COUNTRY BOOKS are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.