444 ANNUAL REPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



and in case this can be accomplished, the successful establishmeiji of 

 a small herd of antelope is considered to be practicable. 



A final examination was made of game conditions on the Wichita 

 National Game Preserve and a report made to the forester with 

 recommendations for handling the game there and for disposal of 

 the surplus. 



As a matter of cooperation in methods of administering parks and 

 forests, with special reference to their wild-life resources, an assistant 

 of the bureau attended the North Carolina Forestry Convention at 

 Pinehurst, January 23 and 24, and the Third National Conference on 

 State Parks, held at Turkey Run State Park, Ind., May 7 to 9, at 

 each of which he delivered addresses on the relation of wild life 

 to forests and parks. 



LIFE HABITS OF INJURIOUS ANIMALS. 



Detailed experiments with captives of several species of injurious 

 rodents, with special attention to breeding habits, were carried on 

 during the year. The species studied included meadow mice, pocket 

 gophers, kangaroo rats, pocket mice, grasshopper mice, and jump- 

 ing mice. These studies disclosed many interesting habits hitherto 

 unknown, especially with reference to the rapidity of breeding in 

 certain species. These laboratory results admirably supplement field 

 studies previously made on the same species and assist in interpreting 

 habits imperfectly understood. Reports on the results of studies of 

 meadow mice and grasshopper mice were prepared for publication. 

 Intensive field studies also were made of certain injurious rodents in 

 Washington and Oregon, especially mountain beavers, pocket mice, 

 pocket gophers, and silver gray squirrels. 



Late in October and early in November assistants of the bureau 

 made an examination of the plots established in Arizona in coopera- 

 tion with the Forest Service, the Carnegie Institution of Washing- 

 ton, and the University of Arizona, to determine quantitatively the 

 damage effected on forage plants or stock ranges by certain rodents. 

 These experimental plots are so arranged as to furnish data on the 

 varying conditions of vegetation on fenced plots of uniform size, 

 rodents of different species and cattle being given access or excluded 

 to simulate the different natural conditions. A report on the results 

 of a study of the feeding habits of prairie dogs and the quantitative 

 damage to forage plants by these pests has been prepared for pub- 

 lication. 



An intensive study of the habits of jack rabbits, with special ref- 

 erence to their economic status, has also been undertaken. 



Early in October an assistant of the bureau, in cooperation with 

 an official of the Bureau of Plant Industry, made a reconnaissance 

 of Coachella Valley, Calif., as the first step in a proposed intensive 

 study of the geographical and ecological relations of the fauna and 

 flora of this region, which is believed to be potentially one of the 

 richest agricultural areas in the State. Dates are the most important 

 crop and their culture is being studied at the Government date gar- 

 den, at Indio. Several native rodents are believed to be injurious to 

 this crop. The time spent was too short to afford results of im- 

 portance, but this preliminary survey gives promise of information 

 of great practical value should it be possible to continue investiga- 

 tions there. 



