RASTATT, raetat, or RASTADT, a town of Baden, Germany, on the river Murg, about four miles from the Rhine and about 15 miles southwest of Karlsruhe. It was formerly a fortress of the first rank but in.1892 the forti fications were dismantled. The town has manufactures of lace, tobacco and cigars. Pop. about 15,196. Rastatt was the scene of two diplomatic congresses in the 18th century. The first congress of Rastatt met in 1713 to arrange terms of peace between the emperor and France, then still engaged in the war of the Spanish Succession. Peace was concluded 7 March 1714. In accordance with the terms of the treaty, signed by Marshal Villars and Prince Eugene, France gave up possession of the towns of Kehl, Freiberg and Breisach, and the electors of Cologne and Bavaria were rein stated in power. The terms of the Treaty of Utrecht (q.v.) were ratified. The second congress of Rastatt met in 1797 for the pur pose of terminating hostilities between France and the empire. After negotiations had been prolonged for more than a year, war broke out again between France and the allies and the congress suspended its sessions (April 1799). As the French representatives, Roberjot, Bonnier and Debry left the city on the Of 28 April they were set upon by a company of hussars wearing the Austrian uniform and the first two were murdered and the third; sabred and left for dead in a ditch. The papers of the legation were carried off, but no other spoil was taken. This violation of the law of nations aroused the indignation and horror of all Europe. Many attempts have been ,made to fix the responsibility for the deed. Some have ascribed the crime to the Austrian: ,government which was desirous of obtaining certain papers in the possession of the ambas sadors; others maintain that the murderers were French emigres, while others still assert that the act was instigated by Napoleon and other leaders of the War party in France for the purpose of exasperating the French people against Austria. In 1849 the town again be came conspicuous as the stronghold of the Baden revolutionists.
RAT, any of .several large rodents • of the mouse family (see Mouse), especially two spe cies of chouse-ratsk now habituated to civiliza tion in all parts of the world. The black rat (Musraiius) is of light and slender build, about seven inches in length, usually of a bluish black color, but sometimes grayish, and has write large, thin ears, The brown rat (M.
clecumanus) or Norway rat, as it, is often in appropriately styled, is much heavier and larger, with short, rounded cars and a dull brown cplor. Both species are believed to be natives of China but the black rat was abundant in Europe at least as early as the 13th cenuiry.: The brown rat migrated from western China, entering Russia in great numbers in 1727, and from there quickly spreadinv over Europe, which was fully occupied by it by the middle of the 18th century. By its greater fecundity and; ferocity it quickly overcame the black rat, which it has now replaced in most parts. It infested ships and by this means has been carried to all parts of the world. Its wonderful capacity for increase (from 20 to 50 annually), its boldness, tough, elastic constitution and adaptable nature, make it everywhere dominant, and its omnivor ous habits, voracity and destructiveness fre quently lead it to become a source of great annoyance, loss and disease about human habita tions. The ferocity of this species when brought to hay is well known ; and when driven by hunger it is so ravenous that neglected babies have been known to be killed and eaten by them, and a few cases are recorded where even able-bodied men have suffered a like fate when attacked by hordes of rats. They are also agents in the spread of disease, particularly bubonic plague and trichinoses. Against their many faults may be set the solitary virtue that they serve a useful purpose as scavengers in the city sewers, etc. The albino and black and white pied rats sold for pets by bird dealers are derived from the black rat, which has a far milder disposition. The rats of the United States include the black and brown of Norway, above described; the roof, or white-bellied (M. tectorutn) of the Southern States, named from its preference for thatched roofs for its abode; the Florida (neotorua Floridana) a habitat of the Gulf States, common to wild places and swamps, and frequently nesting in trees; the Cotton (Sigmodon hispidus), named from its use of cotton in forming its nest; and the Rocky Mountain; which is destructive to the trappings and stores of campers. Rat skins make fine leather for gloves.