656 
[November, 
The “ Trading-Rat .” 
In short, the zoophile’s zoophily is mainly egotistic, ‘ my 
dog’s devotion to me ’ being taken as the summing up of the 
dog’s relation to life, though sympathy so far operates as to 
attribute like excellence to other people’s dogs.” 
In good sooth the zoophilists fare but ill under Mr. 
Robertson’s searching analysis. We have yet to examine 
the Bestiarian version or perversion of the “ sport ” 
question. 
(To be concluded in our next.) 
V. THE “TRADING-RAT.” 
By Mrs. E. D. W. Hatch. 
HILST borrowing an account of this curious animal 
from our valued contemporary, “ The Popular 
Science Monthly,” we take the liberty of adding 
certain comments. We do not call in question the fa<5ts as 
narrated by Mrs. Hatch, but we cannot help demurring to 
the interpretations here put forward. 
“These interesting rodents are dwellers in the Rocky 
Mountains and adjacent hills, and are known among us by- 
various significant names, as mountain-rat, timber-rat, and 
trade-rat. The first, of course, refers to their native home; 
the second to the sound of their gnawing, scarcely to be 
distinguished from the sawing of timber ; and the last to 
their peculiar system of barter cr exchange, so curious a 
habit that it is doubtful if any other animal has ever been 
known to practice it while in a wild or untamed state. 
“ One of these rats being caught in the house, attracted 
notice by his size: I measured him, and found his body 
8 inches long ; tail, 8 inches ; around his body, under his 
fore legs, 7 inches; ears, i£ inches; fur beautifully fine, 
grey, with a darker shade, nearly black, running lengthwise 
down his back. He was very plump and fat, but I omitted 
taking his weight. 
“ They haunt houses and camps near the hills, but seldom, 
if at all, those a few miles away. The peculiar trading 
