THE NEOTOMAS,. OR PACK RATS 37 



ably often used for food by the inhabitants. 

 The wood rats are preyed upon by coyotes, 

 skunks, kit foxes, and the great horned and 

 rabbit-eared owls by night, and during the 

 day they must fear the attacks of hawks and 

 rattlesnakes. Recently while riding through a 

 rocky gulch I ran onto a wood rat upon whom 

 I showered much pity. She seemed perplexed 

 in her slow movements and was trembling from 

 head to tail-tip. I could not wonder; for there 

 in front of her was an enormous coiled rattle- 

 snake casting a spell over the frightened crea- 

 ture before striking. I gave a violent whoop 

 and threw up my hands and frightened the 

 neotoma off into the brush, but before I could 

 dismount and secure a stone to kill the snake, 

 he had crawled into the brush beyond my 

 reach, following, no doubt, his intended victim. 



