Hou-fU — Mainnial-i of the Middle Mississippi Vallaj. 2 



^4 



Neotoma pennsylvanica Stone. 



ALLKOUKXY CAVE RAT. 



Tlii.s .species may l)e found in suitable situations througliout the eastern 

 part of Kentucky at least as far west as ]Mammotli Cave, and as far north 

 as the Ohio River. It prol)al)ly occurs, also, in the cliflTs on the Indiana 

 side of the river. • 



At jNIammoth Cave they are numerous, both in the main cave and in a 

 small cave known as the White Cave, but I found no signs of their pres- 

 ence aljout the cliffs and large rocks on the Green River hillside at this 

 place. In the ]Mammoth Cave they are found as far l)ack as one can 

 penetrate. Two specimens were trapped at a point aljout 2}4. miles from 

 the entrance, and others at the mouth of the cave. The rats enter the 

 cave through the main entrance (which is the'only known entrance) and 

 possibly also through small crevices leading down from thecliflls or small 

 caves on the Green River hillside. At various points in the cave their 

 tracks are very abundant in the sand on the floor and there are numerous 

 hard-i>acked trails running close to the walls and into side crevices. The 

 great numljer of tracks doubtless gives an exaggerated idea of the al)und- 

 ance of the rats, for since there is nothing except human footsteps to 

 obliterate the tracks, they may remain intact for a long period. Several 

 large piles of rat excrement were noticed, ])nt comparatively little rubbish 

 had been brouglit in by the animals. Quite a few nut shells (hickory, 

 acorns, and hazel nuts) were seen, but no green vegetation and no piles 

 of sticks. 



The guides frequently see the rats wliile in the cave, and as they are 

 never distnrVjed they are very gentle and unsuspicious. They occasionally 

 come about the tables in the dining hall in the cave and instances are 

 reported of their having come regularly to be fed by the guides. The 

 former manager of the Mammoth Cave estate once had a cave rat in cap- 

 tivity, and he discovered accidentally that not only could he handle it 

 with impunity, but it actually enjoyed being stroked and seemed to become 

 drowsy under the operation. This rat always chose vegetable food in 

 place of meat when both were offered it. 



In the White Cave, which is oidy al)out 200 yards long, and near the 

 surface, I found the rats numerous and was able to ol)serve their ])eculiar 

 mode of living. In this cave they make small nests or " forms " of finely 

 shredded cedar bark, just about the size and shajje of a meadow lark's 

 nest, though not arched over at all. These resemble closely the " forms " 

 of the cottontail rabbit. I found five or six of these nests placed on the 

 floor of tlie cave, close to. the wall, and on a narrow ledge of rock near 

 the ceiling. Some of them were occupied by the rats at the time, and 

 several specimens were secured here. The only other material brought 

 into this cave by the rats are small tips of cedar l^ranches ; these are strewn 

 quite thickly around their nests and one large rock was completely covered 

 with them. A few old nut shells were found also, but no leaves or 

 branches of any tree but cedar {Juniper us virglniana). The cedar may 

 have been brouaht in to be used as food, but none of it was found in the 



