WARD'S NATURAL SCIENCE BULLETIN. 
IB 
THE KANGAROO RAT. 
{Dipodomys phillipsi ordi, Woodh.) 
The plains and foot-hills of Southwestern New 
Mexico, covered with an endless succession of 
sagebrush, yuccas and cacti, and entirely devoid 
of water, would seem to present little attraction 
for animal life, and be a poor field for the col- 
lector, of mammals especially. Yet there are 
here several small forms well worth attention. 
Probably the first thing to take the collector’s 
notice will be the many mounds of dirt and 
gravel, scattered here and there among the chap- 
arral. They are from five to ten feet in diameter, 
and raised to a height of from one to three feet 
by the numerous burrows which completely 
honeycomb them, leaving barely enough earth 
between to sustain the roof. 
Take a step on one of these mounds, and the 
foot will sink down through a whole series of 
galleries, but without calling forth any sign of 
an occupant, unless it be the ominous rattle of 
his snakeship, who is fond of making here his 
temporary residence. The proprietors seem to 
have, deeper down, a safe retreat, secure from 
unfriendly intrusion. The bits of weeds and 
grasses, lying thick about the holes, and the well- 
beaten paths which lead out to the gleaning 
grounds and to neighboring burrows, would indi- 
cate a considerable and industrious community. 
For farther knowledge of the animal’s identity 
recourse may be had to a “ box trap ”, well baited 
with potato, and set beside a runway. Next 
morning it will probably be tenanted by a little 
ball of brown fur which shows only a sharp nose, 
a pair of bright eyes and a long, tufted tail — 
enough, however, to mark him as a “Kangaroo 
Rat.” He will no doubt have gnawed in two the 
bait stick and tried every available opening, 
until his nose is worn bare and the wood stained 
with his blood. He is a harmless little fellow, 
and when handled makes no attempt to bite, but 
kicks most vigorously. 
Set at liberty in-doors, after looking cautiously 
about, he makes a circuit of the room ; and his 
mode of progression certainly is altogether Kan- 
garoo-like. Using only his hind legs, he hops 
along, balancing himself by his tail; the fore 
legs meanwhile being held up close under his 
chin, and almost hidden in the fur. The body 
is arched over, the top of the head but little above 
the level of the back. When eating, the food is 
held in the fore paws after the fashion of a rat 
or squirrel. Other than this he seems to make 
little use of his fore feet except occasionally 
when, leaning forward on them, his hind feet 
are beaten rapidly against the. ground, producing 
a peculiar “drumming” sound, often heard at 
the burrows. His cry, seldom uttered, is much 
like the “squeak” of the common mouse. 
The winter color of the Kangaroo Rat varies 
in different individuals from tawny brown to 
cinnamon brown, and occasionally almost mouse 
color. But respecting personal appearance and 
anatomical peculiarities nothing can be added to 
Dr. Coues’ description. The animal, however, 
frequently exceeds in size any measurements 
given by either Dr. Coues or Professor Baird. 
Of thirty-four specimens measured, the smallest 
gives length of head and body 3.87 inches, tail 
vertebrae 4.87 inches, and the largest 5.75 and 
8.12, the average being about 4.50 and 5.75. 
They are, however, separated by a considerable 
difference in size and in coloration of the tail, 
into two series: one, represented by twenty-six 
individuals, varies in total length from 8.75 inches 
to 10.50 inches, and has the terminal portion of 
the tail brownish black: the other, comprising 
eight individuals, from 12.75 to 18.87, has the 
same portion white. Whether these differences 
are due to age, or to some other cause, remains to 
be determined. The ratio of head and body to 
tail vertebrae varies from 1: 1.09 to 1:1.55. 
There is no perceptible difference between male 
and female, either in size or proportions. Only 
two of the females were with young: one had four, 
the other five. They would have brought fourth 
about March 1st and April 5th. The nocturnal 
nature of the animal, and its delicacy and sensi- 
tiveness to exposure make observation of its hab- 
its difficult. There remains much to be learned 
regarding it, as well as many others of our mam- 
mals. B. 
Our Prices. 
We are in the main fortunate in being able to 
obtain and hold the confidence of our clients in 
the various points on which we are questioned 
or consulted by them. This is perhaps especially 
the case when we undertake to define the exact 
quality of any particular specimen which a party 
may contemplate purchasing from or selling to 
us. But when it comes to the matter of the prices 
for objects or series of objects, our clients, par- 
ticularly those from the Western States, often 
seem to think either that we do not know our 
own mind or that we are not frank in stating its 
decisions. 
One client “expects a large reduction.” An- 
other reminds us that he has bought of us for a 
hundred or two dollars at some time in the past, 
and “ shall expect at least ten per cent, discount 
from our regular prices. ” 
Another says that of this city or of 
that city always gives him twenty or forty or 
sixty per cent, off. 
Another wishes reduction because he buys for 
an Institution of learning. 
Another asks the lowest price for a specific 
object and then cooly answers that he will give a 
less sum. To this latter we never reply further 
in the actual case, and so will not further notice 
him here. But to the others we answer as fol- 
lows, seriatim: 
Our catalogues state clearly in their preface 
what discount, if any, we can make in that class 
of objects. 
Our transactions with all parties are conclusive 
at the time of their occurance; intended to be 
correct in themselves and not to entail subsequent 
obligations from us or from our patron. 
The party who can buy so much cheaper from 
of city may be aware that he will also 
be getting an article of a proportionately cheaper 
quality. In that case his statement to us is dis- 
ingenuous. But if he can really buy the same 
thing elsewhere cheaper, then we must regret- 
tingly renounce the chance of ourselves selling 
to him, and heartily commend hin to the other 
dealer. 
Finally to the Teacher and the Principal of an 
Institution we must say that our material is 
gotten together, and the prices put upon it, ex- 
pressly for them. 
In short the whole question sums itself up in 
this wise: Our prices are those given in our 
catalogues. In some few instances ( notably 
among Minerals and Shells), the price of particu- 
lar specimens may alter either way, usually lower, 
before a new edition of the catalogue can be 
gotten out, or again, and more frequently, the 
species may be represented by specimens of dif- 
ferent grades of value. In these cases we are 
always glad to give fullest indications as to any 
specimen or number of specimens, and to state 
our prices for the same. Having given these 
prices, we do not care to receive any lower bids. 
If the knowledge that we deal on this strictly 
one-priced plan is to our advantage in sparing us 
much needless and tedious correspondence, it is 
also of value to the purchaser in the fact that 
our prices given under such circumstances are 
sure to be as low as we can afford. 
H. A. Ward. 
Ward & Howell. 
— » » » 
Amateur Collectors. 
We think an instructive, if somewhat sad arti- 
cle, might be written on the fallacies of amateur 
collectors. Their greatest fallacy is in regard to 
the value of specimens, their valuation being 
usually about three times that of any one else. 
Then, too, if they come upon a specimen some 
what novel in its character, it immediately be- 
comes a great rarity and beyond price. 
The amateur is also always sure that he can 
procure anything, even if it really be rare, and it is 
only by repeated failures that he realizes the true 
difficulty of obtaining rarities. We have been 
led into these reflections from the circulars we 
have from time to time received from parties who 
proposed starting out on collecting tours and 
wished to dispose of some of their specimens 
beforehand. 
[From an Exchange.] 
“CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE. 
A SPECIMEN BRICK. 
Albert Maasen, in the course of his researches 
on the amidocresols, prepared a new body which 
receives, under the existing laws of chemical 
nomenclature, the extraordinary name “ pen- 
tamethyldiamidothiodiphenylamindiiodomethyl- 
ate.” [49 letters.] See Berichte d. deutsclien chem. 
Oes. xvii, 618.” 
The Harvey Herbarium. 
In a previous issue of the Bulletin we adver- 
tised the fact that we hold for sale the Herbarium 
of that distinguished botanist, the late Professor 
W. H. Harvey, of Trinity College, Dublin. We 
have had some inquiries about this Herbarium 
from parties considering the question of its pur- 
chase. For its contents we refer to the resume 
given in Bulletin No. 1. Vol. 4. For its char- 
acter, quality and value we can only repeat, that 
this is one of the most celebrated botanical col- 
lections which has ever been before the public. 
It long held in Great Britiau the position (due to 
its comprehensive fullness) and the reputation 
which Dr. Gray’s celebrated Herbarium at Har- 
vard holds in this country. 
Professor W. H. Brewer, the well-known bot- 
anist and naturalist of Yale College, says: 
“Professor W. H. Harvey was one of the most 
noted botanists in the generation just preceding 
this, and when Systematic Botany was the subject 
of vastly more study than now, and when a large 
number of collectors and explorers were in the 
field gathering in the species for comparison and 
study. He took advantage of the times to gather 
an Herbarium representing the vegetation of vari- 
ous lands. He was a standard writer, and the 
results of his work occupy an important place in 
botanical literature. For such a work as his an 
Herbarium as extensive as the whole boundary of 
science was necessary. Some of the very first 
specimens from Arizona and Southern California 
fonnd their place in this Herbarium. ( See Bot. 
California, vol. ii. , p. 555. ) 
This noted Herbarium would be a treasure for 
any college where Systematic Botany is taught. 
Beyond the great expense and the long years 
which were required in its making, it has a 
notable value in connection with the history of 
Botanical Science.” 
We hold this celebrated Herbarium still on sale, 
and the great tin-lined boxes which contain its 
many hundred bundles are so stored that their 
contents may be readily examined by anyone 
who should contemplate purchasing. It is care- 
fully mounted and labelled by Harvey himself, 
and contains no less than seventeen thousand 
species, with a total of over seventy thousand 
specimens. These from all parts of the world. 
For its contents and range, see page 16, Bulle- 
tin No. 1. Yol. 4. 
Price of Herbarium, - - - $3,000. 
The Camel, 
[By Charles Dudley Warner.] 
No human royal family dare be uglier than 
the camel. He is a mass of bones, faded tufts, 
bumps, lumps, splay-joints, and callosites. His 
tail is a ridiculous wisp, and a failure as an orna- 
ment or fly-brush. His feet are simply big 
sponges. For skin covering he has patches of 
old buffalo robes, faded and with the hair worn 
off. His voice is more disagreeable than his 
appearance. With a reputation for patience, he 
is snappish and vindictive. His endurance is 
overrated; that is to say, he dies like a sheep if 
he is not well fed. His gait racks muscles like 
the ague. And yet this ungainly creature carries 
his head in the air and regards the world out of 
his great brown eyes with disdain. The very 
poise of his head says: “I have come out of the 
dim past; the deluge did not touch me; I helped 
Sliofoo build the great pyramid; I knew Egypt 
when it hadn’t an obelisk nor a temple. There 
are three of us; the date-palm, the pyramid and 
myself. Everything else is modern. Goto!” 
