The Hawaiian Rat. 5 



collect petrels, which were nesting in the holes among the stones 

 of the terraces. We found the remains of about a dozen petrels, 

 skulls, feathers and chewed bones, in the upper layer of dust. 

 Two goats had also died in the shelter, possibly being unable to 

 get out." 



In May, 1915, Mr. Stokes found a number of mandibles 

 and bones of the same species of rat on the sand-dunes of 

 Heleloa, Mokapu Peninsula, Oahu (PI. X). Most of these were 

 obtained on the surface of wind-blown hollows on the dunes. In 

 a sand quarry a few hundred feet distant, a broken skull and other 

 fragments were picked up. Upon searching for traces of living 

 rats, several small holes were observed on the tops of the dunes, 

 among the scattered shore plants and scanty grass. As this point 

 of land is almost insular, the possibility suggested itself that the 

 imported rats and mongoose had not yet reached it, and that the 

 native rat might still persist there. Eight traps were therefore 

 set but without result, although one was sprung. An opportunity 

 to repeat the experiment has not occurred. 



On the island of Popoia, Kailua Bay, Oahu (PL X), a small 

 rusty brown rat had been seen by Mr. Stokes early in 1915, and on 

 the chance that it might be the supposed extinct species a trap 

 was set on May 7, baited with bacon rind and a few drops of oils 

 of aniseed and rhodium. On the 9th the trap contained two dead 

 males and two living females. Mr. Stokes says : 



"One of the males (No. 901 1) showed the marks of a severe 

 fight, and undoubtedly there had been a fight to a finish. The 

 others were drowned, and the lot (Nos. 9010-901 3) placed in alco- 

 hol immediately. 



"On the nth, No. 9016 was taken in the morning, and a 

 male, probably her mate, in the afternoon. The trap was visited 

 twice daily, and the location changed every time a day passed 

 without a catch. 



"Returning froni Honolulu a fortnight later, the trap was set 

 out for about seven days, and only one female caught. 



"It seemed well to let them breed up a little, as the island is 

 very small, so no more trapping was done until Sept. i8-i9th, 

 when the exposure of the trap for a night and a day secured a 

 pair. The bait was bacon rind only. The female (No. 9017) 

 looked seedy and died a few days afterwards. 



["255] 



