Intellect in Brutes

Abstract

IN answer to the objections raised by W. P. Buchan and Henry Muirhead to the case of rats gnawing water-pipes for the express purpose of obtaining water, as described in my letter to NATURE, vol. xix. p. 365, I propose to give particulars of the situation of the pipes so gnawed in two instances. No. I. At Poplar. Pipe laid on second floor, between flooring-boards above and ceiling below, between joists the usual distance apart; plenty of room all round pipes to obtain access to any part of the floor, also rat-holes in woodwork to facilitate communication. As the pipe lay above the ceiling of the floor below, there was no necessity to attack the pipe in order to get through the ceiling—if that were desired. A hole could easily have been made at any point on either side of the pipe. The upper floor was a corn loft, and it is inferred from the circumstances, that the rats, feeding upon this very dry food, had tapped the water-pipe to obtain a supply of water close at hand. No. II. On Haverstock Hill. Cistern in scullery about six feet from the floor, pipe (lead), comes thence down wall, passes under floor of scullery to kitchen to supply kitchen boiler. Pipe laid on the earth, between joists, raised, of course, on bricks. Pipe gnawed on upper side. Plenty of room all round for rats to pass freely under all parts of the floor, as any practical builder will readily understand. They could have tunnelled under this 3/4-inch pipe from either side through the soft earth. Of the two holes in the pipe one will admit a small pin, the other is about 1/20th of an inch in greatest diameter, and about an inch from the first. These are transverse perforations, the ineffectual attempts are in a longitudinal direction. It is of course quite possible, as in Mr. Buchan's cases, that rats occasionally find gas-pipes in their way and are compelled to attack them, but I do not think any of your readers will imagine that his question, “Now, are they cut to get at the gas?” needs a moment's consideration. Possibly some of your correspondents may be able to corroborate the following—A ship's carpenter told me that, in the old days before the use of iron tanks on board ship became general, the rats used to attack the water casks, cutting the stave so thin that they could suck the water through the wood, without actually making a hole in it. If any one could substantiate this it would have an important bearing on the question under consideration.