TRADING RATS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2379, 8 October 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

TRADING RATS.

Studies in natural history, calculated to excite the wonder of a young student, abound in the western regions of America. I know I was vastly entertained, during a trip through Arizona, New Mexico, by my own observation of the mountain rata, popularly known there as ‘ trading rats.’ I used to lie awake sometimes, in order to watch their pranks by the light of the camp-fire. Their antics and gambols reminded me of young kittens at play. They often appeared to be at a game of ‘tag.’ They looked like common rats, save that they are lighter in colour, their tails shorter and thicker, and less pointed. They live in hollow trees and in the rooke. But the very funny thing is that, though they are born thieves, little kleptomaniacs every one, they always return something in the place of every article taken away ; and a queer thing, too, is the fact that they rarely steal articles of food. One night I felt a slight stir about my head. Cautiously opening my eyes, I saw one of these rats tugging manfully at my saddle, which I was using as a pillow. As the saddle was one of the Californian style, and weighed about thirty pounds, the efforts of the little rascal seemed to he very ambitious for an animal of his size. They take away cartridges, knives, and forks, or anything else they can carry. I have been told by an old prospector that ho had a whole outfit of such things ‘ rustled ’ (that is, stolen), in one night, and that various objects were returned in its place. Articles taken from one place have been found in a shanty twenty miles distant. I met one nay at a railway station an old ranchman, who lived at least 20 miles from the road, and, chancing to speak of these rats, he said ; “I fount in my ‘ shack ’ the other day quite a collection of spoons, forks and knives, hid under a pile of rubbish, that had been brought by these little thieves. Where they came from I don’t know, but Ido know that they carried off in turn a whole box of 40-75 Winchester cartridges.” I laughed, and replied ; “ Well, I have your cartridges, and yon have my spoons, for out of a dozen I have only two left. And as the cartridges will not fit my Sharps 40-70 they are no use to me. So,if you’ll bring the spoons to Flinu’s store, I'll see that the cartridges are left there, and you can get them.” The exchange was effected jn the course of a few clays, and the spoons proved to lie mine and the cartiidges his.—Y ideAwake.