I. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 397 



niary value of rabbits and sheep, upon all the light soils near 

 the sea-coast, shows that the rabbits are very much more 

 valuable, since they eat various kinds of grasses which sheep 

 never touch, and will also feed on dandelions and roots ; and 

 while the sheep take off the top of the vegetation, the rabbits 

 eat the rest, so that both can be cultivated in the same region, 

 although it is more profitable to confine attention exclusively 

 to the rabbits. 2 A, December 6, 1873, 4G0. 



DESTRUCTIVENESS OF RODENTS IN CALIFORNIA. 



It is difficult for those living in the older portions of the 

 United States to realize the extent of the losses experienced 

 by agriculturists in California from the ravages of the vari- 

 ous rodent mammals which abound in that state, especially 

 the gophers and so-called ground-squirrels. 



The gopher is a large species of pouched rat, which makes 

 extensive burrows, from which it seldom emerges. It has a 

 counterpart in a larger species, bearing the same name, in 

 Illinois, where also it is sometimes called the pouched rat. 

 Another species is called the salamander in Georgia and 

 Florida. 



The ground-squirrels are very different from the animal 

 bearing the same name in the Eastern States. It is a species 

 larger than the common gray squirrel of the East, with a tail 

 nearly as long, but much less bushy, and occurs in large com- 

 munities, living in burrows more or less thicklv aggregated. 

 The ground-squirrel is known as /Spermophilus beecheyii ; 

 while the gopher is the Thomomys bulbivonts. 



A convention of agriculturists was held in October last to 

 discuss the best methods of destroying these animals (the 

 squirrels especially), and was attended by delegations from 

 a la-rge portion of the state. On this occasion it was remark- 

 ed that the plan of offering local bounties had proved entire- 

 ly inadequate, the expense being enormous, and very little 

 benefit resulting ; and it was considered necessary to invoke 

 the aid of the state in the adoption of some more comprehen- 

 sive method than had hitherto been employed. The law al- 

 ready enacted by the state is considered harsh and impracti- 

 cable, and further legislation is desired. 



According to statements presented at this meeting, the 

 average loss from the ravages of the squirrels, in Contra Costa 



