The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-20
THE WOOD RATS INDUSTRY
Constructed House of kindlins Wood
 and Kept It in Repair.
Prom Forest and Stream.

From Forest and Stream.
 In the natural history coming under my observation have not seen anything concerning the wood rat. It may be that the rodent Is too common to attract spe- :. cal attention, but I am inclined to be- lieve that, If he is widely distributed. he Is rarely observed.
 About two years ago I became inter ested In a pair of wood rats that seized upon and possessed themselves of my wood house for a habitation. The house Is thirty feet long, and one end of it Is used for a workbench, repair shop and tool house. The other end is used mainly for storing dry kindling wood and small stove wood. The rats moved in when l . was away for a period, and the pair found a good supply of dry pine sticks a foot to sixteen inches in length split from inch boards. These were of various widths, from one to five inches, and , there were number of heavy sticks of scantling in corner. With notable in- dustry the rats had piled the small sticks : Into a fairly regular pyramid, using the foundation and frame, adapting their architecture to the conditions of the To- cation with remarkable ingenuity.
 Their architecture fitted in with the landscape in the woodhouse so well that It was some time before I noticed that the kfndling wood was methodcally placed. As wet weather came and the kindling was needed I frequently took an. armful into the house, without realizing that l was taking gargoyles and cornices ! from a private residence.
 In removing the sticks I often pulled down a quantity of the pile in selecting. ! After doing this for some days I began to notice that each morning the pyramid was reformed, the scattered sticks cole lected and placed methodicaIly. As the wood was used the pyramid grew smaller and smaller, but each morning all the scattered sticks, except some that be. came wedged and fastened in the larger and heavier wood, would be found re- placed upon the apex of the diminishing pile. When the wood had been about half removed I began to get occasional glimpses of the rats. When I removed sticks they dodged in and out of the pile. Bs though they would defend their castle to the extent of their power.
 The wood was never entirely removed and that which remained was kept In a fairly shaped pyramid until 1t was not more than three feet in diameter. The rats, of which I had never seen more than two, became so tame that they would remain in sight on the sills near theii -I1ouse within an arms length of me at times. Later in the season the mis- tress of the pyramid appeared with two young ones.
 now began to miss some of my port able property. Files, small chisels, nails. measuring sticks. patterns, pieces of leather and such articles would disappear from my workbench These from time to time I would find mixed in with the sticks in the building material used by the rats. I have been informed this Is one of the traits of the animals. They are so excessively industrious that they annex almost anything that they can carry or drag away, with very indifferent ideas of property rights or ownership. They are partial to bright and glttering things, such as bits of glass, tin and metal. They would doubtless acquire and hoard money with almost trustlike pers- pieuity and acumen if they were not so much addicted to twigs and hndling wood.