. Bulletin - Biological Survey. Zoology, Economic. 28 THE BROWN EAT IN THE UNITED STATES. similar instance in that city where pipes were gnawed by rats, but fortunately it occurred when the inmates were awake. The most common way in which rats cause fires is by gnawing away the insulating covering from wires used in electric lighting, where the wires pass under floors or inside of partitions. The insulating mate- rials are used for nests, which rats often build of combustibles placed in contact with the naked wires. Insurance companies, a few years ago, estimated the fire loss in the United St
. Bulletin - Biological Survey. Zoology, Economic. 28 THE BROWN EAT IN THE UNITED STATES. similar instance in that city where pipes were gnawed by rats, but fortunately it occurred when the inmates were awake. The most common way in which rats cause fires is by gnawing away the insulating covering from wires used in electric lighting, where the wires pass under floors or inside of partitions. The insulating mate- rials are used for nests, which rats often build of combustibles placed in contact with the naked wires. Insurance companies, a few years ago, estimated the fire loss in the United States due to defective insulation of wires at $15,000,000 yearly; and since rats and mice are the chief agents in impairing the insulation after the wires are in place, a large part of the above sum must be charged to these animals. Rats often do mischief by gnawing the insulating covering of tele- phone wires to obtain the paraffin which it contains. The accom- panying illustration (fig, 1) is from a photograph of wires gnawed by. Fig. 1.—Telephone wires gnawed by rats. rats August 20, 1908, where these wires passed through a partition in rooms occupied by the Biological Survey. DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS AND FURNITUEE. The damage to houses and furniture by rats constitutes a large item. They burrow under foundations or through the plaster in a stone wall and admit streams of water that eventually weaken or undermine the structure itself. They seem to be able to penetrate almost every- thing except stone, brick, cement, glass, and iron. They gnaw into a grain bin, or through a wainscoting, a floor, or a door in a single night. In the same way they enter chests, wardrobes, bookcases, closets, barrels, and boxes for the stores within. Almost every old dwelling in the country bears abundant evidence of its former or pres- ent occupancy by rats. Often depreciation in value of houses and furniture is due largely to marks left upon them by rats—marks that paint and varnish can not hide.
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