THE TRADING-RAT. 831 



Thus, the motive force of these formidable disturbances is always 

 active under the feet of the inhabitants of many regions. Against the 

 permanent danger that menaces them, men have at least the remedy of 

 forgetf ulness. Translated for the Popular Science Monthly from 

 the Revue des Deux Mondes. 



-*- 



THE TRADING-KAT. 



By Mrs. E. D. W. HATCH. 



THESE interesting rodents are dwellers in the Rocky Mountains 

 and adjacent hills, and are known among us by various significant 

 names, as mountain-rat, timber-rat, and trade-rat. The first, of course, 

 refers to their native home ; the second to the sound of their gnaw- 

 ing, scarcely to be distinguished from the sawing of timber ; and the 

 last to their peculiar system of barter or exchange, so curious a habit 

 that it is doubtful if any other animal has ever been known to prac- 

 tice it while in a wild or untamed state. 



These animals are much larger and stronger than the ordinary 

 house-rat so much so that cats are apparently afraid of them, and 

 can not be induced to attack them. They are pretty, well formed, 

 have very bright black eyes, prominent, beautifully shaped, pointed 

 ears, and soft gray fur. Their tails are not rat-like, but are more like 

 a squirrel's, only less bushy, being covered with fur. 



Such keen, intelligent-looking little creatures are they that, but for 

 our instinctive dislike to the name of rat, we should be sti*ongly tempted 

 to tame them as attractive and teachable pets. Until they learn that 

 they have an enemy in man, they are quite unsuspicious, and will allow 

 any one to walk up to them. 



One of these rats being caught in the house, attracted by his size, 

 I measured him body, eight inches long ; tail, eight inches ; around 

 his body, under his fore-legs, seven inches ; ears, an inch and a half ; 

 fur beautifully fine, gray, with a darker shade, nearly black, running 

 lengthwise down his back. He was very plump and fat, but I omit- 

 ted getting his weight. 



They haunt houses and camps near the hills, but seldom, if at all, 

 those a few miles away. The peculiar trading characteristics natural 

 to this little merchant, its habit of exchanging goods without a " by 

 your leave," wise ways, and queer tricks, seem far more like reason 

 than instinct. A few incidents which came under my own observa- 

 tion will illustrate this characteristic. Some men, passing through the 

 country, camped in a deserted cabin, and, before wrapjaing themselves 

 in their blankets for the night, they placed their bread for breakfast 

 in a pan near the fire. On rising, to their dismay, not a crumb of 



