Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-02
WHISTLING RAT
Is THE LATEST
SCIENTIST FROM LA JoLLA
MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT
Guests at Dinner Hear About New
Rodent That Is TaIIIess, Has
chsnsesbls Eyes and Looks
Like a Guinea Pig

Special to The Herald.
LA JOLLA, Aug. 26.-Col. d. Tre-
menn, who came to La Jolla a few
weeks ago In search of information
regarding the California fauna for the
use of the Smithsonian institution. an
nounces what he believes to be a most
curious and highly valuable discovery
The colonel says he has found new
rat. Not common house rat, not O
sewer rat, nor yet even a wharf rat
but a specimen distinct from all three
and, so far as is known. not yet classi-
fed by scientists.
To the ordinary layman who cares
little about rats except when they
keep him awake nights or otherwise
indicate their presence by making pro-
vender Of his belongings, this discov-
cry may prove of little interest. but
to students Of natural history 1t is
frarght with enough Significance to
make La Jolla, the colonel and even
California famous the world over.
Had the discovery been made by an
other than Col. Tremann, scoffers
might have made light of his an
nouncement, but the coloners name is
too well known to permit of levIty,
while 1t Is certain that the Smithson-
such mission man in whom its
directors had not the fullest confidence.
JovlaI Though Scientific
Since coming here the colonel, who is
of jovial disposition and who makes
friends readily, has become one Of the
most popular men in town. This even
ing he gave dinner which set new
record In the history of La Jolla hos
ha III. .ofe
first upon his knowledge of natural his
tory, second upon his skill in ordering
good dinners and third upon his abil-
ity as connoisseur of rare vintages.
Tonight he exhibited all three.
The dinner was the best the town
could provide. The wines were delight
full and of just the proper temperature
and the banquet was crowned by the
colonePs announcement of his dis
covery.
Whistles Like Gallery God
According to his description the Tre-
n1enn rat, If 1t may be so called, diff
fers from the ordinary rodent In i'm
pertant particulars. 1t has no tail, in
this respect looking more like a
Guinea pig than a rat. 1t is of a
bright yellow, with curious indigo-hued
markings while the eyes apparently
possess the chameleon's secret of
changing their color at will.
This, however, is not all. The Tre-
menn rat, disdaining the squeak of the
ordinary rodent, whistles like gallery
god, being particularly fond of such
airs as 1.-THE Cat Came Back" THE
Moon is Made Of Green Cheese" and
Hickory Dickory-Dock." The colonel
confessed without reluctance that he
was considerably surprised the first
time he heard the rat whistle these
airs, but declared that 1t was nothing
to his astonishment when the animal
followed them with "Dixie" and my
Old Kentucky Home" delightfully."-
rendered, with the colorature quality Of
true artist
Following this last selection, the
colonel admits that he sought to catch
the rat, which, however, bowed grace
fully, gave military salute and re-
tired through hole in the wall
Soon the colonel will begin work
upon a monograph describing the new
animal and its habits, and which is
expected to create sensation in the
scientific world.