R.D. Kirkpatrick 1965 Rattus exulans Fakaofu Atoll, Tokalau Islands Feb: the hole and appeared to gnaw on a live 27 root. It smelted the trap bait, apparently, (cont.) and was caught in a trap (it is now RD# 5618). Within 5 minutes RD# 5629 was also caught. A 3rd rat was captured in both traps but escaped. The Museum specials are too small to catch and hold Polynesian rats. The 2 collected had their skulls crushed because the traps were too small (i.e. short). Feb: No additional rats were found in 28 the traps and only 13 of the 25 traps were found. They had not been tied down and the rats and coconut crabs apparently carried them off. This atoll seems to have a fairly high rat population. Our native guides reported that they had not seen them swimming from island to island (often less than 30 yds.) but they have noted that the population fluctuates from island to island and from time to time on the same island.