[To TILE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.'] Srn,—A propos of your
interesting article on "Recent Rat- lore," in the Spectator of November 96, the incidents named from Mr. 31. C. Barkley's graphic "Studies on Rat-catching," suggest my writing to narrate a clever exploit of a retriever. dog belonging to the housekeeper of a well-known newspaper office in the Strand. Rats are constantly caught on the premises, and the dog, fully aware of their habits, evinces such ability that his intelligence is quite worthy of record. Last Sunday he was heard barking loudly, calling for assist- ance, in the compositors' room, where there is a rat-hole in the floor. The dog had watched two fine rats come up through their hole, and immediately they were fairly away from their point of entry he rushed up and sat on the hole to cut off their means of retreat, barking forthwith for help. Nothing would induce him to budge till a board was brought and placed over the hole, when he started in pursuit, and soon despatched the intruders. His master assures me that the dog originated this ingenious method of procedure, and that he has practised it with like success on several other occasions.
Kirkcote, Bedford Park, Chiswick, W., November 10th.
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