THE NEOTOMAS, OR PACK RATS 29 



around until they run across some other article 

 that appeals more to them. The first object is 

 then dropped and the second carried until they 

 reach the nest, or until some silly curiosity 

 prompts them to drop this one and pick up a 

 third. On account of this inclination to pack 

 off things and gather and accumulate them in 

 all sorts of odd places in dwellings and about 

 their nests, there has grown up the belief that 

 they are actually given to bartering, never 

 taking one object without leaving another as 

 "pay." This, however, is not a fact and cannot 

 be verified by experience. 



The animals which go under the name of 

 "pack rats " or " trade rats " belong to the genus 

 of rodents known as "neotomas." -They are 

 not true rats, and are very unlike the common 

 introduced house rats, both in appearance and 

 in their habits, having none of the repulsive 

 aspects and possessing much more interesting 

 manners. They will not live in habitations 

 infested by the common European house rats. 

 They rank among our most intelligent smaller 

 mammals [and make most engaging pets. They 

 are gentle, affectionate, and easy to keep. 



