WOOD-RATS, PACK-RATS, ETC. 101 



or camps not permanently occupied and eat or carry 

 away provisions. They sometimes cause great annoy- 

 ance by cutting leather harnesses or saddles. There 

 is rarely more than one animal responsible for the 

 mischief in a camp, however, and a rat-trap will 

 usually prevent further trouble. It is unfortunate 

 that the odious name of rat has become attached to 

 these bright and interesting little animals, as other- 

 wise they might become a table delicacy. They are 

 cleanly in habits and are strictly vegetarian in diet. 

 Their flesh is as white and delicate as that of the 

 quail and finer in flavor than that of the squirrel or 

 rabbit. ' ' 



The mountain pack-rat. The best-known of 

 these wood-rats is that yellowish-gray one of 

 the Rocky Mountain region, with the very 

 bushy tail, known as pack-rat, trade-rat or 

 bush-rat (Neotoma cinerea), and its reputa- 

 tion is an evil one. As Warren remarks: 

 "While the warm weather lasts (in Colorado), 

 they do not trouble habitations very much, but 

 when in the mountains the weather begins to 

 get colder the rat looks out for a warm place 

 for his winter residence, and often selects the 

 miner's cabin or some ranch-house." It soon 

 makes its presence known by carrying away any 

 portable articles, and it makes no difference 



