Evening star., 1949-11-24
This and That
By Charles E. TracesveH


A rat is just rat. to most peoplej but ac-
tually there are many kinds of rats, and some
Of them scarcely deserve to be thought of
as rats" in the ordinary sense.
Take the kangaroo rat, for instance
Here is an animal which is able to exist
without water, and 50 must be regarded
with awe. almost.
It is one of the three rats which have
been ravaging the vegetation along the Rio
Grande River in Texas.
Hordes Of field, pack and kangaroo rats,
the Associated Press reported, swarmed over
5000 acres Of fertile farm lands.
The invasion stretched Is miles along the
river and In some places from one to two
miles deep.
Apparently the rodent population built
up as the grasshopper populations did. and
the members reached the point where they
had to move or starve.
These rats-and remember they are not
what we think Of usually. when we think Of
rats-ate tomatoes, green peppers and even
citrus fruits.
These rats are actually not ''rats," In the
ordinary sense, as most Of us think Of them.
They are native American species. much
cleaner; not transmitters Of terrible diseases.
and may even be eaten with 1mpunity-pro-
vided one is hungry enough. and cooks them
properly. and Is not overcome at the very
idea Of eating q rat.
For there are rats and rats. and these rats
are not in the least like European rats. the
Norway or brown rat. that has made such q
successful invasion Of our land.
Our own rats are fellows that like the
good green earth, the fresh air and streams.
They have winds blowing over them and live
lives much resembling those lived by squir-
rels. also members of the rodent family. .
To think Of rodent as bad. Just because
he belongs to the group. Is not right. for
they are the most numerous Of animals, and
also perhaps the most successful.
Think what it would mean, for instance.
for man to be able to live without water.
Well the kangaroo rats can do It.
They are able to do it because Of physio-
logical process which transforms part Of the
food they eat into water in their bodies.
Actually, kangaroo rats are rather pleas
ing with silky fur, long hind legs-as beffts
anything so called-and long tail.
Another thing rodents do, shared only
with man and little creature called the
chief hare, Is to store up food.
Some naturalists even wonder whether ro-
dents may not survive man, since the latter
is devoted to killing OF his own species as
well as others.
The food-storing habit has enabled the
rodents to live through many harsh winters
where other animals die.
Our own little gray squirrel has primi-
tive method Of food storing. that is, he digs
q hole In the ground and buries seeds and
other types Of food. One may wonder
whether the one who buries bit Of food
finds his own. The answer Is that 1t makes
no difference, just 80 long as he finds what
some other squirrel buries.
Natlralists tell us that man has extermin-
ated 50 many other animals that life Is all
the easier today for the rodents. which range
In size from the tiny field mice to the large
South American capybara, 100 pounds OF
solid meat specimen may be seen at
the Zoo.
Besides lessening the enemies Of rats.
man has helped them further by building
up,gigantic stores Of grains and other foods.
primarily for himself, Of course. but also en-
joyed by the various rodents, who thus find
man contributing materially to their own
welfare.
The Norwegian Jennings are famous for
their sudden migrations. Most persons think
this Is due to migratory instinct inherited
from ancestors that once Travelled the same
route over land.
Naturalists tell us that this is wrong, that
the Jennings suddenly depart because OF
threatened starvation, due to great increase
Of population, and just move on blindly.
Though rodents can do more things than
other orders Of animals. and cover more
territory, and exist under q greater diversity
Of local conditions, some Of them at last
lose their lives In facing something they
scarce are equipped to face. But We must
never make the mistake Of, thinking that the
word "rat" means just the rodents We do
mt Ike Some rats are dne fellows.