The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-08-01
The California Wood Rat.

n W. Chnse, u. >. Coast Survey, con-
corning the habits of the so-called Califor-
MIA wood rat. 1t Is little larger than an
ordinary Norway rat, dark brown in color,
with large lustrous eyes, and tail covered
with thin hairs. / should call it interme-
diate between the squirrel aud rat This
creature builds its nest In the woods, some
times on the ground, more frequently in
the lower branches Of trees They accu-
nulate surprising quantity Of dried twigs
which they interlace to form dome-sbaped
structure, often ten or twelve feet high
and six or eight feet in diameter
Openings in the mass lead to the center,
where is found the nest, consisting Of the
finely divided inner bark of trees, dried
grass, etc. But il is to the peculiar thiey-
ish propensity Of this little creature that
wish TO call attention. To make my story
intelligible, | would FIRST state that j am
partial owner of some property on the Or
egon coast, on which saw mill had been
placed, but which, owing to various causes,
has never been in operation. On this
property was a dwelling house for the
hands, in which, on work being discontin-
ued, were stored quantity of stuff, tools,
packing for the engine, six or seven kegs
of large spikes; in the closets, knives,
forks, spoons, etc. 4 large cooking stove
was left in one of the rooms.
This house was left uninhabited for two
years, and, being at some distance from
the little settlement, il was frequently bro
ken into by tramps who sought shelter
for the night. When | entered this house
was astonished to sec an immense rats
nest on the empty stove. On examining
this nest, which was about five feet in hight
and occupied the whole top of the stove "a
large range,) found the outside to be
composed entirely of spikes, all laid with
symmetry so MS to present the points of
the nails outward. IN the centre Of this
masg was the nest, composed of finely di-
vidcd iibers of III hemp packing. Inter-
laced with the pixies, We found the follow
ing ;-Abou. three dozen knives, forks,
and spoons, all the butcher knives, three
in number, large carving knife, fork, and
steel several large plugs of tobacco the
nniaidn casing nf silver watch was dis
posed Of in one part Of the pile, the glass
Of the same watch in another, and the
works in still another an old purse con-
tanning some silver, matches, and tobacco;
nearly all the small tools from the tool
closets, among them several large augcrs.
Altogether, il was very curious mixture
Of different articles, all of which must have
been transported some distance, as they
were originally stored in different parts of
the house.
The ingenuity and skin displayed in the
construction Of the nest and the curious
taste for articles of iron, many Of them
heavy, for component parts, struck me
with surprise The articles of value were,
think, stolen from the men who had bro
ken into house for temporary lodging, |
have preserved sketch Of this ironclad
nest, which | think unique in natural his
tory.
Many curious facts have since been re-
lated me, concerning the habits of this little
creature. A miner told me the following:
He once, during the mining excitement in
Siskyiou county, became in California par
lance dead broke, and applied for and
obtained employment in mining camp,
where the owners, hands and all, slept in
thc'same cabin. Shortly after his arrival
small articles commenced to disappear; If
whole plug of tobacco were left on the
table, il would be gone in the morning.
Finally a bag, containing one hundred or
more dollars in gold dust, was taken from
a small table at the head Of chunk" in
which one Of the proprietors of the claim
slept Suspicion fell ON the new conner,
and he would perhaps have Jared hardly /;
for, with those rough miners, punishment
is short and sharp; but, just in time, a
large rats nest was discovered in the gar
ret OF the cabin, and in it was found the
missing money, as we'll as tho tobacco aud
other articles supposed to have been stolen.
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A conductor on the Pennsylvania rail-
road relates the following incident which
lately occurred on his section of the road :
At an eastern station he received on board
fine looking specimen Of an old country
gentleman, When he passed through the
ears, the old gentleman handed up his
ticket, which was duly punched and re-
turned to him. After passing the next
call station the conductor again called for
the old gentleman'S ticket. lie looked up
in surprise, and very honestly informed
the puncher Of tickets that he had thrown
it out Of the window. "Why did you do
that?' asked the conductor The old man
replied :--1Why, ! thought if you didn't
want il, didn't The face of the old
man was so honest, and his knowledge Of
railroad traveliAg evidently 50 limited, that
tho conductor accepted his word, and
carried him to his destination.
The stock Of horses in Russia, il is said,
would be insufficient for tho wants Of tie
farmers Of the Empire, in the event Of
mobilization Of the army. A committee
Of the general army staff reports that $780,
I