Hi All Rats and mice will hang by their front paws to gnaw. I have watched a wild rat do a "hand over hand" traverse sideways along a mortered seam in brickwork using nothing but it's front paws. The horizontal distance travelled was 5 1/2 feet at a height of 6 feet from the ground. The ledge in the morter was about 2 mm. The feat was repeated many times but I only observed it once. As regards brains the question I would pose is "how did the rat know there was any point in performing the manouvre in the first place"? Best regards Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: Robert Brenchley <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> > True, but would even the most acrobatic of wood mice really dangle from > its front legs with its bum in mid-air, while gnawing heroically to try to > get through the mouse excluder? If so, it deserves top marks for gymnastics, > but none for brains.