--Writing from Tecumseh, Mich., a correspondent sends this: “A few years ago our house was infested with a large number of rats, which had taken up their abode in a recess of the cellar that had formerly been used as a landing-place for a dumb-waiter, but was now filled with odds and ends of every description. We had endeavored to rid ourselves of these pests, but all our attempts were in vain, and they held their daily matinees as usual. On hearing more of a commotion than common, one afternoon, I softly opened the cellar door, and, to my amazement, saw nine rats, one of which had mounted a box containing potatoes, while the others were stretched out in a line leading to their den--the recess before mentioned. Now comes the most curious part of my story: The rat that stood on the box of potatoes would push a potato over the edge, then the rat in line nearest the box would roll the potato to his neighbor, and so on with each one till the potato was safely stowed away. I watched them for some time, and, seeing the potatoes disappearing rather rapidly, I dispersed the earnest workers by a stamp of my foot.” PUZZLEDOM. NO. CCCLXXVII. Original contributions solicited from _all_. Puzzles containing obsolete words will be received. Write contributions on one side of the paper, and apart from all communications. Address “Puzzle Editor,” GOLDEN DAYS, Philadelphia, Pa. ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLES. No. 1. Calendar. No. 2. B E S T O W E P A U L E S A C R E D T U R B I D O L E I N E W E D D E D No. 3. Wise-acre. No. 4. C A L A B O O S E A N I M A B L E L I M E R O D A M E N D E B A R D S O B O E O L D S E E No. 5. Mark Tapley. No. 6. M O C H E S O T I O S E C I C U T A H O U D A H E S T A T E S E A H E N No. 7. Good-humored. No. 8. F A I R S A B N E T S I N T A I L S R E A L L I E D S T I L E T T O S S L I T H E R S E T E E D O R S No. 9. Byrnehc, Pygmalion, Traddles. No. 10. G R A T I S R E V E S T A V E N E R T E N U R E I S E R I N S T R E N E No. 11. Cover-shame. No. 12. H U M E C T A T I O N P O L I A N I T E B A T T E N S S E T A E D O R O NEW PUZZLES. NO. 1. NUMERICAL. When trees and fields _complete_ Their garbs of green; When birds and flowers sweet Again are seen, And airy zephyrs murmur by, My 5, 4, 3 and 6 soars high. Oh! how I’m in a state Of agitation, 6, 1 and 2 I get An inspiration. ’Twill be in vain--in vain my lay, For spring will then have flown away. _Villanova, Pa._ VILLANOVA.