THE QUADRUPEDS OF ARIZONA. 399 
perfectly smooth. Those species most likely to occur are 
Reithrodon montanus Baird, of which the type is from the 
Rocky Mountains in latitude 39°; and R. megalotis in 
the regions contiguous to Sonora. They must either be 
quite rare, or of very inconspicuous habits. 
The Bush Rat (Neotoma Mexicana) is abundant 
throughout the Territory, and forms no small item in the 
economy of the Indians. Not only the numerous tribes of 
the Colorado, but also the various branches of the Apaché 
family, make great use of them as an article of food. 
After the destruction of Apaché “rancherias,” we always 
found, among other implements and utensils, numerous 
sticks, about as big as walking-canes, one end of which 
was bent in the shape of a hook, hardened in the fire, and 
a little sharpened. These, I was’informed and have every 
reason to believe, were used to probe holes and poke 
about brush-heaps for rats, and to drag them out when 
discovered. 
This statement may be doubted by those who know 
of the Bush Rat only as an arboreal species, building 
a compact globular nest of grasses and sticks in mez- 
quite and other low thick trees. While this is cer- 
tainly the case, there is no doubt that, under different 
circumstances, it may live underground, among rocks, 
or-in brush-heaps. I have seen many heaps of rushes, 
sticks, and grasses, which could have been the work of no 
other animal, and formed either the nest itself, or the 
“vestibule” of a subterranean abode. I have also been 
informed to the same effect by several hunters and good 
observers. Dr. Kennerly has found it living under stones. 
It shows no tendency to modify its primitive habits by 
taking up its residence with man. 
The food of these rats is entirely vegetable, and ob- 
