SKETCHES FROM NATURAL HISTORY*. No. XXXVII. THE WATER-RAT. (Arvicola amphibia. Rat-d'eau, Buff.) "And 'tis thus that the water-rat liveth all day, MARY HOWITT. THE water-vole, or, as it is commonly called, the water-rat, spread over most parts of Europe, is by many regarded as a variety of that destructive animal the common rat. It is, however, totally distinct. In size it equals the common brown rat; but the head is thicker, and more obtuse, The illustration is from the "Squirrels and other Animals," &c., by George Waring; for which we are indebted to the kindness of Messrs. Harvey and Darton.-ED. VOL. XX. the muzzle being blunt and short. The ears are scarcely apparent, being buried in the fur. The eyes are small and black. The tail is little more than half the length of the body, and thinly covered with short hair. The fur is thick and close; its colour on the upper parts being dark reddish brown, mixed with grey; on the under surface brownish white. A black variety sometimes occurs (Arvicola ater), common in the counties of Aberdeen and Banff; and it is said that the common water-rat is not found where it abounds. The waymarks of the water-rat on the surface of stagnant ponds, or ditches, are mantled over with a thick crop of chickweed. These tracks are made during the night, the season in which it wanders in search of food or its fellows. The roots of aquatic plants, especially the typha, the stems of equisetum, buds, and bark, &c., constitute their diet. "The water-rat," says Mr. Howitt, "is considered a common thief, and is killed wherever he is found. If you watch him in his secluded F streams, you will quickly discern that his food is almost entirely the herbage which grows in them; and especially the leaf of the arrow-head (Sagittaria sagittifolia)." It has been affirmed that it feeds also upon insects, small fish, frogs, &c.; but for this assertion there is not the slightest foundation. "There can be no doubt," says professor Bell, "that this supposition has arisen, from its being confounded with the common brown rat (Mus decumanus), which is well known to frequent the banks of ditches, and to feed readily on almost all animal substances, attacking even the smaller alive, when driven with hunger; and it is, in fact, in the organization essentially connected with their different habits and propensities that the characters of the two families consist." ("British Quadrupeds," p. 323). tion that it was a small water mole; "to which," says professor Bell, "both the structure and habits of the whole genus indicate a very near affinity." Its food consists chiefly of water insects, though it is often found at some distance from the water; when, after having exhausted the ditch or brook to which it has attached itself, it proceeds to seek sustenance elsewhere. The female, a little smaller than the male, and of a lighter colour, produces from five to eight young. The water-shrew differs in some respects from the common (Sorex araneus), which fre quents dry situations, feeding upon insects and worms. It has a rank, musky smell, peculiarly disagreeable to cats, which will kill, but not eat it. Dogs also are said to have a great aversion to it. Mr. Gilbert White strikingly illustrates the absurdity of popular superstition, by a reference to the foolish notions entertained concerning the shrew-mouse; believed to produce lameness by running over the foot, and disease to any part of an animal by the same means. The use of the ancient antidote to these imagined injuries has now probably passed away*. It consisted in the application of a twig of a shrew-ash. The water-rat frequents the borders of large ponds, reservoirs, streams, and rivers, dwelling in burrows of considerable extent; to which there are generally two or more outlets. The main outlet is generally close to the water's edge, so that during floods it is not unfrequently below the surface; but the gallery, sloping upwards as it proceeds in the bank, terminates in a chamber which the water does not reach. Here, in a At the south corner of the plestor, or area, nest of dried grass and vegetable fibres, the female near the church of Selborne, there stood, about rears her young, amounting to five or six, some- twenty years ago, 'a very old, grotesque, hollow times in April, but generally in May or June. pollard-ash, which for ages had been looked on Nocturnal, or crepuscular in its habits, it is chiefly with no small veneration as a shrew-ash. Now, as the dusk of evening steals on that the water- a shrew-ash is an ash whose twigs or branches, rat emerges from its retreat, seldom venturing far when gently applied to the limbs of cattle, will from the margin of the pond or river; into which, immediately relieve the pains which a beast suffers when alarmed, it immediately plunges, and swims from the running of a shrew-mouse over the part under the cover of overhanging roots and herbage infected; for it is supposed that a shrew-mouse to its bed. Though not web-footed, it is at home is of so baneful and deleterious a nature that, in the water, and dives with great ease. It hy- whenever it creeps over a beast, be it horse, bernates during a portion of the winter, and also cow, or sheep, the suffering animal is affiicted lays up a store of food. with cruel anguish, and threatened with the loss of the use of the limb. Against this accidentto which they were continually liable-our provident forefathers always kept a shrew-ash at hand; which, when once medicated, would maintain its virtue for ever. A shrew-ash was made thus: Into the body of the tree a deep hole was bored with an auger, and a poor devoted shrewmouse was thrust in alive, and plugged in, no doubt with several quaint incantations long since forgotten. As the ceremonies necessary for such a consecration are no longer understood, all succession is at an end; and no such tree is known to subsist in the manor or hundred. "As to that on the plestor Mr. White says, "As a neighbour was lately ploughing in a dry, chalky field, far removed from any water, he turned out a water-rat that was curiously laid up in an hybernaculum artificially formed of grass and leaves. At one end of the burrow lay above a gallon of potatoes regularly stowed, on which it was to have supported itself for the winter." Some points in the history of this species are not fully known. The dimensions are Inches. Length of body and head 8 Head Tail. Lines. 4 1 10 0 5 8 THE WATER-SHREW. (Sorex fodiens. Pall.) The late vicar stubb'd and burn'd it,' when he was way-warden, regardless of the remonstrances of the bystanders, who interceded in vain for its preservation, urging its power and efficacy, and alleging that it had been 'Religione patrum multos servata per annos."" Dr. Plot, in his "History of Staffordshire," says, "Mr. Bennett, in his edition of Mr. White's work, relates that two workmen, on sawing the The water-shrew is a pretty little animal; the existence of which was long unknown to naturalists. Its coat is soft, short, and silky; the body gracile. The eyes are very small, ears short, and furnished with three lobes, tail slender. The colour of the upper parts, including the head, back, flanks, and outer surface of the fore and hind legs, is a rich brownish black. The under parts are nearly purely white. The black and silky fur of the upper part, and its elongated (Selborne). It would appear, therefore, that the superstitious snout, have given rise in some places to the no A person, above the rank of a common labourer, has just told me that this belief is quite common in this neighbourhood notion has not passed away.-T. B. trunk of a solid oak, cut through the body of 'a hardishrew, or nursrow' (as they here call them), i. e., a field-mouse, and that the case remains an inexplicable riddle to all those about to this very day; but, methinks to any one that considers the superstitious custom they have in this country of making nursrow trees for the cure of unaccountable swellings in their cattle, the thing should not seem strange. For to make any tree -whether oak, ash, or elm, it being indifferent which-a nursrow tree, they catch one or more of these mice (which they fancy bite their cattle, and make them swell), and, having bored a hole to the centre in the body of the tree, they put the mice in, and then drive a peg in after them of the same wood; where they, starving at last, communicate forsooth such a virtue to the tree, that cattle thus swollen, being whipped with the boughs of it, presently recover; of which trees they have not so many (though so easily made), but that at some places they go eight or ten miles to procure this remedy." Saviour's triumphant exaltation at the right hand of God. And now it was that the apostle Peter commenced the work which had been assigned to him-of building upon the one foundation, which is Christ the Lord, the first range of that spiritual temple which the triune Jehovah is to inhabit throughout eternity. With a distinctness, a boldness, and a candour, that the messengers of God in every age should seek to imitate, he asserted the claims, he expounded the objects of the death, he bore witness to the victorious resurrection of his Master: he called on the enemies and the very murderers of Christ to repent, and to be baptized, and concluded his appeal by announcing, in the most emphatic terms, the unlimited mercy and loving-kindness of God. Such was the effect of the apostle's discourse, that multitudes gladly received the word, and were admitted by the sacrament of baptism into the church; and THE FAITH AND STEDFASTNESS OF THE three thousand souls were added on the same EARLY CHRISTIANS: A Sermon*, BY THE REV. DANIEL BAGOT, B.D., Vicar-General of Newry and Morne, Vicar of Newry, and Chaplain to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. ACTS ii. 42-47. "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." SUCH is the graphic and instructive account given by the evangelist, in the only book of inspired ecclesiastical history that exists of the first Christian church formed after the as cension of our blessed Redeemer. The apostles, who were appointed to be the builders of that imperishable edifice, had been commanded by their Lord and Master to remain in Jerusalem for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, and, when they had received it, to commence their proclamation of pardoning mercy in that very place which was still moistened with the blood of Jesus. Accordingly, we find that, "when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place;" and then the Holy Ghost descended in sacramental form and with sacramental energy; and the infant church received into her bosom the first-fruits of her • Preached in the Castle chapel, Dublin. day to the communion of saints. And here we have an account of what was their primitive state, when the splendid excitement of Pentecost had subsided, and when this large assemblage of the faithful were organized by apostolic discipline, and bound together by the faith and hope of the gospel. Let us, my brethren, examine into some of the details of this account, depending upon the grace of that blessed Spirit by whom it has been recorded, and praying that he would bring the subject so vividly before our minds, that we, as members of the church of Christ in our own day, may be stimulated to aspire after the same holiness of character and benevolence of disposition by which the first assembly of the people of God was characterized. Let us, then consider I. The account here given of the primitive church. II. The blessed effects of its state and condition. I. We have here, then, in the first place, a very full account of the primitive church. It is, in fact, a kind of full-length portrait, drawn by the pencil of inspiration, which we must analyze and examine for our own benefit. And here, first of all, we find it stated, that "they continued stedfastly in the apostle's doctrine." If you ask what this doctrine was, we refer you back to the clear outline of it which is presented to our minds in the sermon of the apostle Peter. It was the doctrine of a free and full remission of our sins, through the atoning sacrifice of our blessed Saviour, who was put to death for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. It was the glorious gospel of our ever-blessed God, which exhibits God as just, while at the same time he is the justifier | tered and matured. By prayer we bring a down blessings from the exhaustless storehouse of our Saviour's mercy. By praise we recognize the goodness of God, we manifest gratitude for his unceasing kindness towards us, we are filled with joy and gladness of heart, and are assimilated in temperament as well as in practice to the angels above celebration of the holy communion of the body and blood of Christ, in which a ransomed church commemorates the love that brought her Saviour down from heaven for her redemption, in which the Christian solemnly surrenders himself as a willing and obedient follower to his service, in which his faith is strengthened and increased, in which his hopes are elevated and refined, in which his love is expanded and enlarged. For the purpose of enjoying the advantages which these means of grace were calculated, under the divine blessing, to confer, these primitive Christians did not neglect the "assembling of themselves together." of him that believeth in Jesus: that gospel which teaches that, when man was reduced to state of moral death by sin, without strength, without merit, without holiness, the wisdom and the love of God contrived a plan for his recovery from the ruins of the fall that gospel which teaches that the only begotten Son of God came down from hea-" Breaking of bread" refers, doubtless, to the ven, assumed our nature into union with his own, and offered the sacrifice of his humanity upon the altar of his Godhead, that, in thus vindicating the holiness and justice of God, he might encircle his character and his law with the lustre of a decisive and imperishable vindication, and thus become the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him: that gospel which proclaims the joyful news of our Saviour's resurrection-that great and splendid fact which is the key-stone of the Christian system-the proof of the all-sufficiency of our Saviour's sacrifice, the type, the model, and the pledge of the future resurrection of all that believe in him that gospel which announces the gift of the Holy Spirit to regenerate and to sanctify our souls, to raise us from spiritual death, to lead, to comfort, and to instruct us, that we may persevere unto the end, living a life of faith now, in the hope of a life of eternal glory hereafter. Such was the apostle's doctrine, for a fuller exposition of which we may refer you to the apostles' creed, which those who constituted the primitive church "gladly received," and in which they" stedfastly continued," as that by which alone they could procure peace and holiness and joy. : But we must also notice another characteristic feature in this infant church. They manifested a noble and commendable attention to the wants of their poorer brethren: they "continued stedfastly in the fellowship," or, rather, as the original word implies, in the contribution, or in the generous and considerate extension of their temporal resources for the supply of the necessities of their poorer brethren: "They had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need." Their capital as well as their income It is also asserted that these primitive was devoted to the sacred cause of charity. Christians maintained a constant attendance But let us understand this. Some persons on the means of grace. My brethren, a man have argued from the expressions "they cannot walk alone and by himself on the path had all things common"-that there was which leads to glory. As soon as his con- an absolute community of goods in the church science has been awakened, his judgment con- of Jerusalem, to the entire exclusion of all vinced, and his heart subdued to the obedi- private and personal property. But this ence of faith, he must become a member of opinion, I believe, is nothing more than a that church to which her divine Master has theological fiction -the mere offspring of entrusted the dispensation of those means of fancy, and which can be most easily refuted. grace which he has provided for the advance- For, if this were the case, why should it have ment of the spiritual interests of his people. been related of Barnabas specially that he Every conversion of a sinner must be an ad- sold a farm in order to contribute to the comdition to the ranks of the church; and every mon stock, if all who had land did so likeconverted sinner must seek in the church wise? Why should it have been said to those means of grace which are necessary for Ananias that the possession was his own behis support and consolation. These are re-fore he sold it, and that after he sold it the ferred to in our text. The first disciples "continued stedfastly in prayer, in praise, in the breaking of bread, in the assembling of themselves together." By these our growth in grace, in spirituality of mind, in holiness of life, in consistency of conduct, in strength of principle, and in brotherly love, are fos price was in his own power? Why should "widows" have been specified as the kind of objects to be more particularly relieved, if there was an absolute community of goods amongst all? In fact, the language of our text is no more than a strong description of the ardent and unbounded charity that pre vailed in the primitive church; and nothing more was practised by the first disciples of the Redeemer, than what the legitimate efficacy of Christian principle-if it were equally fresh and strong-would, in every age and country, produce. These first believers in Christ were so filled and inflamed with mutual love, that they cheerfully gave of their property for the relief of the necessities of their poorer brethren. In this sense only they had all things common. But who cannot see that the enjoining of an absolute community of goods would leave no free opportunity for the voluntary exhibition of Christian benevolence? Christian teaching is not intended to compel or to constrain the will, by an irresistible and inevitable obligation, into a mechanical conformity with some external mould and measurement of charity, but to attract, to influence, and to incline the will, so as to effect a spontaneous compliance with the apostolic precept," Let every man do as he is disposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for the Lord loveth a cheerful giver." And, if an absolute cominunity of goods were necessary, it would reduce all to an external uniformity, and thus prevent our witnessing the several degrees and gradations of Christian benevolence which are seen in the voluntary exhibition of Christian kindness. Besides, what was practised by the church at Jerusalem was practised by other churches, as we are informed by the apostle Paul: "It hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints that are at Jerusalem," and is enjoined upon all believers in every age; for the same apostle has said: "To do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." But let us pause for a moment, to contemplate and admire this signal triumph of faith in that crucified Redeemer of whom the gospel testifies. Disinterested generosity, in the full flow of liberal and cheerful distribution, was one of the first results of the almighty energy of Christian principle. Yes, my brethren, we claim it as the peculiar glory of Christianity that she alone (warmed, as she is, with the omnipotence of divine love) has succeeded in conquering avarice; in nailing selfishness to the cross of her divine Founder; in teaching men to do good, and to communicate on a scale nnknown before; in making her followers generous, as God himself is generous, who causes his sun to shine on the just and the unjust, and sendeth his rain upon the wicked and the good. The fruits of self-denying philanthropy has never been produced in the wild and barren soil of heathenism. It has only been exhibited to the world in all its ripeness and its beauty, in the character and the practice of the humble followers of Jesus; who, when planted in the house of the Lord and in the courts of our God, flourishes like the palm-tree, and spreads abroad like a cedar in Lebanon. And we cannot fail, my brethren, to notice the spirit of union and of Christian love that pervaded all the services and intercourse of these first disciples of our blessed Redeemer. There was an unity of faith; and, what was of more consequence, there was an unity of feeling amongst them, binding together into one happy family the constituent members of this infant church. It might, indeed, be said of them, "Behold how these Christians love one another;" so zealously did they endeavour to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace." They were together:" they did not frustrate the great purpose for which Christ has incorporated his people into a church, by becoming hermits; but, feeling their mutual dependence on each other, they endeavoured by mutual encouragement to strengthen and to build each other up in the faith and hope of the everlasting gospel. O that our blessed Redeemerwho is the "Prince of peace," and whose office it is to promote " peace on earth, and good will towards men"-would heal the distractions, and remove the contentions that pervade his church in our day, and diffuse amongst its members the soothing influence of the Spirit of peace; so that all that in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ might know themselves to be brethren, and realize in their happy experience "how good and pleasant a thing it is to dwell together in unity!" And Such, my brethren, was the character of the apostolic church, exhibiting principle in connection with practice, and displaying those blessed fruits of the Spirit which are intended to be the attractive embellishments of the Christian character, the essential elements of that holiness which is required as a necessary preliminary to the enjoyment of happiness either now or hereafter. now, observe the effect of this: "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved"-or rather "saved persons"-persons brought into a state in which their salvation has commenced, and is progressing. For, when a sinner believes, his salvation begins in the very exercise of that belief; and, as his faith works by love, his salvation advances from grace; so that he realizes the description which says, "The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Thus it may be seen that the full exhibition of Christian character, |