,transcrib]'s ,note3 ,e ef=t has be5 made to replicate ?is text z fai?fully z possible4 ,italic text has be5 m>k$ ) und]scores4 ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,,dep>tm5t ,,( ,,agriculture ,,f>m]s' ,,bullet9 ,,wa%+ton1 ,d4 ,c4 #fgj ,,june #c1 #aiae4 ,contribution f ! ,bureau ( ,biological ,survey1 ,h5ry ,w4 ,h5%aw1 ,*ief4 ,,field ,,mice ,,z ,,f>m ,,& ,,or*>d ,,pe/s4 ,by ,d4 ,e4 ,,lantz1 ,assi/ant ,biologi/4 ,,note4--,?is bullet9 describes ! habits1 geographic di/ribution1 & me?ods ( de/roy+ mead[ mice & p9e mice1 & discusses ! value ( protect+ _! natural enemies among mammals1 birds1 & reptiles4 ,x is = g5]al di/ribution4 ,,introduction4 ,! ravages ( %ort-tail$ field mice 9 _m p>ts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates result 9 s]i\s losses to f>m]s1 or*>di/s1 & ^? conc]n$ ) ! cons]vation ( our =e/s1 & ! problem ( controll+ ! animals is "o ( consid]able importance4 ,%ort-tail$ field mice are commonly kn[n z mead[ mice1 p9e mice1 & voles2 locally z be> mice1 buck-tail$ mice1 or black mice4 ,! t]m includes a l>ge numb] ( closely relat$ species widely di/ribut$ 9 ! ,nor!rn ,hemisph]e4 ,ov] #ej species & races occur )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ne>ly #dj o!r =ms h be5 describ$ f ,nor? ,am]ica4 ,old ,_w =ms are fully z num]\s4 ,= ! purposes ( ?is pap] no attempt at classification is requir$1 b two g5]al gr\ps w be consid]$ "u ! names mead[ mice & p9e mice4 ,^! two gr\ps h well-m>k$ diff]5ces 9 habits1 & bo? are s]i\s pe/s :]ev] !y inhabit regions ( cultivat$ crops4 ,"u ! t]m mead[ mice#a are includ$ ! _m species ( voles t live *iefly 9 surface runways & build bo? subt]ranean & surface ne/s4 ,"u ! t]m p9e mice#b are includ$ a few =ms t1 l moles1 live almo/ :olly 9 und]gr\nd burr[s4 ,p9e mice may readily be di/+ui%$ f mead[ mice by _! %ort] & smoo!r fur1 _! r$-br[n color1 & _! molelike habits4 7,see fig4 #a47 #a ,g5us ,microtus4 #b ,g5us ,pitymys4 ,illu/ration3 ,,fig4 #a4--;,field mice3 a1 ,mead[ m\se2 b1 p9e m\se4 ,,mead[ ,,mice4 ,mead[ mice inhabit practically ! :ole ( ! ,nor!rn ,hemisph]e-- ,am]ica1 nor? ( ! ,tropics2 all ( ,europe1 except ,irel&2 & ,asia1 except ! s\!rn "p4 ,9 ,nor? ,am]ica !re are few wide areas except arid des]ts free f mead[ mice1 & 9 mo/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates !y h at times be5 num]\s & h>mful4 ,! animals are v prolific1 bre$+ sev]al times a season & produc+ litt]s ( f #f to #aj4 ,"u favor+ circum/ances1 n well und]/ood1 !y sometimes produce abnormally & become a m5ace to all gr[+ crops4 ,plagues ( mead[ mice h (t5 be5 m5tion$ 9 ! hi/ory ( ! ,old ,_w1 & ev5 )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates _m in/ances are record$ ( _! extraord9>y abundance ) accompany+ de/ruction ( vegetation4 ,! runs ( mead[ mice are ma9ly on ! surface ( ! gr\nd "u grass1 leaves1 we$s1 bru%1 bo>ds1 sn[1 or o!r %elt]+ litt]4 ,!y are holl[$ out by ! animals' claws1 & worn h>d & smoo? by be+ frequ5tly trav]s$4 ,!y are ext5sive1 mu* bran*$1 & may readily be f\nd by p>t+ ! grass or remov+ ! litt]4 ,! runs lead to %all[ burr[s :]e l>ge ne/s ( dead grass furni% w9t] retreats = ! mice4 ,summ] ne/s are l>ge balls ( ! same mat]ial hidd5 9 ! grass & (t5 elevat$ on small hummocks 9 ! mead[s & m>%es :]e ! animals ab\nd4 ,! "y are br\ght =? 9 ei!r und]gr\nd or surface ne/s4 ,mead[ mice are injuri\s to mo/ crops4 ,!y de/roy grass 9 mead[s & pa/ures2 cut d[n gra91 clov]1 & alfalfa2 eat gra9 left /&+ 9 %ocks2 injure se$s1 bulbs1 fl[]s1 & g>d5 vegetables2 & are especially h>mful to trees & %rubb]y4 ,! ext5t ( _! depr$ations is usually 9 proportion to _! numb]s4 ,?us1 9 ! l[] ,humboldt ,valley1 ,nevada1 dur+ two w9t]s 7#aijf-h7 ^! mice 7 abnormally abundant1 & totally ru9$ ! alfalfa1 de/roy+ bo? /ems & roots on ab\t #ah1jjj acres & entail+ a loss e/imat$ at fully #bej1jjj4 ,:5 pres5t ev5 9 ord9>y numb]s mead[ mice cause s]i\s injury to or*>ds & nurs]ies4 ,_! attacks on trees are (t5 made 9 w9t] "u cov] ( sn[1 b !y may occur at any season "u %elt] ( gr[+ vegetation or dry litt]4 ,! animals h be5 kn[n almo/ totally to de/roy l>ge nurs]ies ( "y apple trees4 ,x 0 /at$ t dur+ ! w9t] ( #aija-b nurs]ym5 ne> ,ro*e/]1 ,n4 ,y41 su/a9$ losses f ^! mice am\nt+ to fully #ajj1jjj4 ,old] or*>d trees sometimes are kill$ by mead[ mice4 ,9 ,kansas 9 #aijc ! writ] saw hundr$s ( apple trees1 #h to #aj ye>s plant$1 & #d to #f in*es 9 diamet]1 completely girdl$ by ^! pe/s4 7,fig4 #b47 ,! li/ ( cultivat$ trees & %rubs injur$ by ^! animals includes ne>ly all ^? gr[n by ! horticulturi/4 ,! ,biological ,survey has receiv$ compla9ts ( ! de/ruction ( apple1 pe>1 pea*1 plum1 qu9ce1 *]ry1 & crab-apple trees1 ( blackb]ry1 raspb]ry1 rose1 currant1 & b>b]ry bu%es1 & ( grape v9es2 also ( ! injury ( sug> maple1 black locu/1 ,osage orange1 sassafras1 p9e1 ald]1 :ite a%1 m\nta9 a%1 oak1 cottonwood1 will[1 wild *]ry1 & o!r =e/ trees4 ,illu/ration3 ,,fig4 #b4--;,apple tree kill$ by mead[ mice4 ,9 ! ,arnold ,arboretum1 ne> ,bo/on1 ,mass41 dur+ ! w9t] ( #aijc-d1 mead[ mice de/roy$ ?\s&s ( trees & %rubs1 includ+ apple1 junip]1 blueb]ry1 sumac1 maple1 b>b]ry1 buck?orn1 dw>f *]ry1 sn[ball1 bu% honeysuckle1 dogwood1 bee*1 & l>*4 ,plants 9 nurs]y b$s & acorns & cutt+s 9 boxes 7 especial objects ( attack4 ,! injury to trees & %rubs consi/s 9 ! de/ruction ( ! b>k j at ! surface ( ! gr\nd & 9 "s in/ances = sev]al in*es above or bel[4 ,:5 ! girdl+ is complete & ! cambium entirely eat5 ?r\gh1 ! action ( sun & w9d soon completes ! de/ruction ( ! tree4 ,if ! injury is n too ext5sive prompt cov]+ ( ! w\nds w usually save ! tree4 ,9 any case ( girdl+ heap+ up fre% soil ab\t ! trunk s z to cov] ! w\nds & prev5t evaporation is recomm5d$ z ! simple/ rem$y4 ,to save l>ge & valuable trees bridge graft+ may be employ$4 ,,p9e ,,mice4 ,p9e mice occur ov] ! great] "p ( ea/]n ,unit$ ,/ates f ! ,hudson ,riv] ,valley to ea/]n ,kansas & ,nebraska & f ! ,great ,lakes to ! ,gulf ( ,mexico4 ,inhabitants *iefly ( =e/$ regions1 !y are unkn[n on ! op5 pla9s4 ,ord9>ily !y live 9 ! woods1 b are p>tial also to old pa/ures or l&s n frequ5tly cultivat$4 ,f woods1 h$ges1 & f5ce r[s !y spread into g>d5s1 lawns1 & cultivat$ fields ?r\gh _! own und]gr\nd tunnels or ^? ( ! g>d5 mole4 ,! tunnels made by p9e mice c be di/+ui%$ f ^? made by moles only by _! small] diamet] & ! frequ5t holes t op5 to ! surface4 ,:ile ! mole fe$s almo/ :olly ^u insects & e>?worms1 & seldom eats vegetable sub/ances1 p9e mice are true rod5ts & live ^u se$s1 roots1 & leaves4 ,_! h>mful activities include ! de/ruction ( potatoes1 sweet potatoes1 g9s5g roots1 bulbs 9 lawns1 %rubb]y1 & trees4 ,!y de/roy _m fruit trees 9 upl& or*>ds & nurs]ies 7fig4 #c74 ,! mis*ief !y d is n usually discov]$ until lat]1 :5 h>ve/ reveals ! rifl$ potato hills or :5 leaves ( plants or trees sudd5ly )]4 ,9 _m in/ances ! injury is wrongly attribut$ to moles ^: tunnels invade ! place or ext5d f hill to hill ( potatoes4 ,! mole is seek+ e>?worms or :ite grubs t fe$ ^u ! tub]s1 b mice t foll[ 9 ! runs eat ! potatoes !mselves4 ,illu/ration3 ,,fig4 #c4--,root & trunk ( apple tree f ,laurel1 ,md41 gnaw$ by p9e mice4 ,p9e mice fe$ to "s ext5t outside _! burr[s1 rea*+ ! surface ?r\gh ! small op5+s made at frequ5t int]vals 9 ! ro(s ( ! tunnels4 ,9 _! =ays !y r>ely g m ?an a few feet f ^! holes4 ,mo/ ( _! food is c>ri$ "u gr\nd1 :]e mu* is /or$ = future consumption4 ,:ile !y diff] little f mead[ mice 9 g5]al food habits1 _! surr\nd+s af=d !m a l>g] proportion ( ma/4 ,!y are less prolific ?an mead[ mice1 b ?is is m ?an made up = 9 ! fact t 9 _! und]gr\nd life !y are less expos$ to _! enemies among birds & mammals4 ,l mead[ mice1 !y sometimes become abnormally abundant4 ,9 ! ea/]n "p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates p9e mice d m damage to or*>ds ?an d mead[ mice1 p>tly because _! "w is undiscov]$ until trees beg9 to die4 ,! runs ( mead[ mice "u grass or leaves are easily f\nd & ! injury !y d to trees is always visible4 ,on ! o!r h&1 depr$ations by p9e mice c be f\nd only aft] digg+ ab\t ! tree & expos+ ! trunk bel[ ! surface4 ,! roots ( small trees are (t5 entirely eat5 (f by p9e mice1 & p9e trees z well z decidu\s =e/ trees1 :5 "y1 are frequ5tly kill$ by ^! animals 7fig4 #d74 ,illu/ration3 ,,fig4 #d4--,p9e tree kill$ by p9e mice4 ,,de/roy+ ,,field ,,mice4 ,me?ods ( de/roy+ field mice or hold+ !m 9 *eck by trapp+ & poison+ are equally applicable to mead[ mice & p9e mice4 ,,trapp+4 ,if mice are pres5t 9 small numb]s1 z is (t5 ! case 9 lawns1 g>d5s1 or se$ b$s1 !y may readily be caught 9 /rong m\se traps ( ! guillot9e type 7figs4 #e & #f74 ,^! %\ld be bait$ ) oatmeal or o!r gra91 or may be set 9 ! m\se runs )\t bait4 ,illu/ration3 ,,fig4 #e4--;,field m\se caught 9 bait$ guillot9e trap4 ,illu/ration3 ,,fig4 #f4--;,field m\se caught 9 unbait$ guillot9e trap4 ,trapp+ has special advantages = small areas :]e a limit$ numb] ( mice are pres5t1 b x is also adapt$ to l>ge areas :5ev] x is undesirable to lay out poison4 ,x is !n necess>y to use _m traps & cont9ue _! use = sev]al weeks4 ,if mice are mod]ately abundant1 f #ab to #bj traps p] acre maybe us$ to advantage4 ,^! %\ld soon make decid$ inroads on ! numb]s ( mice 9 an or*>d if n practically to ext]m9ate !m4 ,= p9e mice ! tunnels %\ld be excavat$ suffici5tly to admit ! trap on a level ) ! bottom4 ,a light g>d5 tr[el may be us$ = ! necess>y digg+4 ,,poison+4 ,on l>ge areas :]e mice are abundant1 poison+ is ! quicke/ means ( de/roy+ !m1 & ev5 on small areas x has decid$ advantages ov] trapp+4 ,! foll[+ =mula is recomm5d$3 ,dry gra9 =mula4--,mix ?or\ghly #a ounce p[d]$ /ry*n9e 7alkaloid71 #a ounce p[d]$ bic>bonate ( soda1 & #a_/h ounce 7or less7 ( sac*>9e4 ,put ! mixture 9 a t9 pepp] box & sift x gradually ov] #ej p\nds ( cru%$ :eat or #dj p\nds ( cru%$ oats 9 a metal tub1 mix+ ! gra9 con/antly s t ! poison w be ev5ly di/ribut$4 ,dry mix+1 z above describ$1 has ! advantage t ! gra9 may be kept any l5g? ( "t )\t f]m5tation4 ,if x is desir$ to moi/5 ! gra9 to facilitate ?or\gh mix+1 x w\ld be well to use a ?9 />* pa/e 7z describ$ bel[1 b )\t /ry*n9e7 be=e apply+ ! poison4 ,! />* soon h>d5s & f]m5tation is n likely to foll[4 ,if cru%$ oats or :eat c n be obta9$1 :ole oats may be us$1 b !y %\ld be ( good quality4 ,z mice hull ! oats be=e eat+ !m1 x is desirable to h ! poison p5etrate ! k]nels4 ,a v ?9 />* pa/e is recomm5d$ z a m$ium = apply+ poison to ! gra94 ,prep>e z foll[s3 ,wet gra9 =mula4--,dissolve #a ounce ( /ry*nia sulphate 9 #b qu>ts ( boil+ wat]4 ,dissolve #b tablespoonfuls ( laundry />* 9 #a_/b p9t ( cold wat]4 ,add ! />* to ! /ry*n9e solution & boil = a few m9utes until ! />* is cle>4 ,a little sac*>9e may be add$ if desir$1 b x is n ess5tial4 ,p\r ! hot />* ov] #a bu%el ( oats 9 a metal tub & /ir ?or\ghly4 ,let ! gra9 /& ov]night to absorb ! poison4 ,! poison$ gra9 prep>$ by ei!r ( ! above =mulas is to be di/ribut$ ov] ! infe/$ area1 n m ?an a teaspoonful at a place1 c>e be+ tak5 to put x 9 m\se runs & at ! entrances ( burr[s4 ,to avoid de/roy+ birds x %\ld :5ev] possible be plac$ "u su* %elt]s z piles ( we$s1 /raw1 bru%1 or o!r litt]1 or "u bo>ds4 ,small dra9 tiles1 #a #a_/b in*es 9 diamet]1 h sometimes be5 us$ to advantage to hold poison$ gra91 b old t9 cans ) ! edges b5t ne>ly toge!r w s]ve ! same purpose4 ,*opp$ alfalfa hay poison$ ) /ry*n9e 0 successfully us$ to de/roy mead[ mice 9 ,nevada dur+ ! s]i\s outbreak ( ! animals 9 #aijg-h4 ,"o ounce ( /ry*nia sulphate dissolv$ 9 #b gallons ( hot wat] 0 f\nd suffici5t to poison #cj p\nds ( *opp$ alfalfa previ\sly moi/5$ ) wat]4 ,?is bait1 di/ribut$ 9 small quantities at a place1 0 v effective aga9/ ! mice1 & birds 7 n endang]$ 9 its di/ribution4 ,= poison+ mice 9 small areas1 z lawns1 g>d5s1 se$ b$s1 vegetable pits1 & ! l1 a conv5i5t bait is ord9>y roll$ oats4 ,?is may be prep>$ z foll[s3 ,dissolve #a_/af ounce ( /ry*n9e 9 #a p9t ( boil+ wat] & p\r x ov] z mu* oatmeal 7ab\t #b p\nds7 z x w wet4 ,mix until all ! gra9 is moi/5$4 ,put x out1 a teaspoonful at a place1 "u %elt] ( we$ & bru% piles or wide bo>ds4 ,! above poisons are adapt$ to kill+ p9e mice1 b sweet potatoes cut into small pieces h prov$ ev5 m effective4 ,!y keep well 9 contact ) soil except :5 !re is dang] ( freez+1 & are readily eat5 by ! mice4 ,! baits %\ld be prep>$ z foll[s3 ,potato =mula4--,cut sweet potatoes into pieces ab\t z l>ge z good-siz$ grapes4 ,place !m 9 a metal pan or tub & wet !m ) wat]4 ,dra9 (f ! wat] & ) a t9 pepp] box sl[ly sift ov] !m p[d]$ /ry*n9e 7alkaloid pref]r$71 /irr+ con/antly s t ! poison is ev5ly di/ribut$4 ,an ounce ( /ry*n9e %\ld poison a bu%el ( ! cut bait4 ,! bait1 :e!r ( gra9 or pieces ( potato1 may be dropp$ into ! p9e-m\se tunnels ?r\gh ! natural op5+s or ?r\gh holes made ) a piece ( broom h&le or o!r /ick4 ,bird life w n be endang]$ by ^! baits4 ,,cultivat+ ,,! ,,l&4 ,?or\gh cultivation ( fields & ! elim9ation ( f5ce r[s betwe5 !m is ! mo/ effective protection aga9/ field mice4 ,cultivation de/roys we$s & all ! annual gr[?s t s]ve z %elt] = ! animals4 ,?is applies equally well to or*>ds & nurs]ies4 ,clean tillage & ! removal f adjo9+ areas ( ! we$s & grass t provide hid+ places = mice w always secure immunity to trees f attacks ( ! animals4 ,,protect+ ,,natural ,,enemies ,,( ,,mice4 ,field mice are ! prey ( _m species ( mammals1 birds1 & reptiles4 ,un=tunately1 ! relation t exi/s betwe5 ! numb]s ( rod5ts & ! numb]s ( _! enemies is n g5]ally appreciat$2 o!rwise ! public w\ld ex]cise m discrim9ation 9 its w>f>e aga9/ c>nivor\s animals4 ,x is ! p]si/5t de/ruction ( ^!1 ! b5eficial & h>mful alike1 t has br\ght ab\t ! pres5t condition ( gr[+ sc>city ( pr$aci\s mammals & birds & correspond+ increase ( rod5t pe/s ( ! f>m1 especially rats & mice4 ,! relation betwe5 effect & cause is obvi\s4 ,among ! mammalian enemies ( mead[ & p9e mice are coyotes1 wildcats1 foxes1 badg]s1 raccoons1 opossums1 skunks1 weasels1 %rews1 & ! dome/ic cat & dog4 ,among birds1 _! enemies include ne>ly all ! hawks & owls1 /orks1 ibises1 h]ons1 cranes1 gulls1 %rikes1 cuckoos1 & cr[s4 ,among _! reptilian foes are black snakes & bull snakes4 ,n all ^! de/roy]s ( mice are m b5eficial ?an h>mful1 b ! majority are1 & w>f>e aga9/ !m %\ld be limit$ to ! m9ority t are m noxi\s ?an useful4 ,,owls ,,& ,,field ,,mice4 ,owls z de/roy]s ( mice are des]v+ ( special m5tion4 ,n "o ( our ,am]ican owls1 unless x be ! great horn$ owl1 is to be class$ z noxi\s4 ,especially b5eficial are ! %ort-e>$1 long-e>$1 scree*1 & b>n owls4 ,all ^! prey l>gely ^u field mice1 & seldom h>m birds4 ,un=tunately1 ! %ort-e>$ & b>n owls1 :i* are ! m useful species1 are n pl5tiful 9 ! sections mo/ s]i\sly infe/$ by field mice4 ,! %ort-e>$ owl1 :ile widely di/ribut$1 is n abundant1 except locally1 )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 b :]ev] field mice become excessively num]\s ^! owls usually assemble 9 consid]able numb]s to prey ^u !m4 ,exam9ations ( /oma*s ( ^! owls %[ t fully ?ree-f\r?s ( _! food consi/s ( %ort-tail$ field mice4 ,! b>n owl is r common 9 ! s\!rn half ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & bre$s z f> nor? z ! =ty-fir/ p>allel ( latitude4 ,t mice =m ! *ief diet ( ?is bird has be5 demon/rat$ by ,dr4 ,a4 ,k4 ,fi%]1 ( ! ,biological ,survey1 ?r\gh exam9ation ( /oma*s ( _m b>n owls & also ( l>ge numb]s ( pellets 7ca/+s f _! /oma*s7 f\nd "u _! roo/s4 ,9 #a1bdg b>n-owl pellets collect$ 9 ! t[]s ( ! ,smi?sonian ,build+ 9 ,wa%+ton1 ,d4 ,c41 he f\nd #a1iia skulls ( %ort-tail$ field mice1 #fef ( ! h\se m\se1 #baj ( ! common rat1 & #adg ( o!r small rod5ts & %rews4 ,v few rema9s ( birds 7 f\nd4 ,figure #g illu/rates ! cont5ts ( "s ( ^! pellets4 ,illu/ration3 ,,fig4 #g4--;,field-m\se skulls tak5 f pellets f\nd "u owl roo/ 9 ,smi?sonian t[]1 ,wa%+ton1 ,d4 ,c4 ,9 #cfj pellets ( ! long-e>$ owl ,dr4 ,fi%] f\nd skulls ( #cgd small mammals1 ( :i* #cdi 7 mead[ mice4 ,/oma* exam9ations give simil> te/imony to ! usefulness ( ?is bird4 ,! common scree* owl1 9 addition to fe$+ ma9ly ^u mice1 de/roys also a good _m ,engli% sp>r[s4 ,its habit ( /ay+ 9 or*>ds & close to f>m build+s makes x especially useful to ! f>m] 9 keep+ 8 premises free f bo? h\se & field mice4 ,,wa%+ton3 ,,gov]nm5t ,,pr9t+ ,,(fice3 #aiae