FIBER ZIBETHICUS. 177 



prey upon Mice. Pre-eminent among these may be mentioned the 

 marsh and rough-legged hawks, all the smaller hawks and owls, the 

 shrike, the skunk, and the weasels. Thus the farmer in his short- 

 sightedness omits no opportunity to deprive himself of nature's means 

 of holding in check the vermin that ruin his crops. 



When a field is overrun by Meadow Mice, immense numbers of 

 them may be captured in narrow trenches, a spade's breadth in width, 

 and a foot and a half {48 j mm.) in depth. The trenches should be 

 a trifle wider at the bottom than at the top. Into these the Mice 

 tumble, without being able to escape. 



The Meadow Mouse is exceedingly prolific, giving birth to from 

 four to eight young at a time, and having several litters in a season. 

 In early spring its nests are generally made just beneath the surface, 

 but after the grass has attained a little height they are usually placed 

 in slight depressions directly on the ground. 



FIBER ZIBETHICUS (Linn.) Cuvier. 



Muskrat ; MiisquasJi. 



Colonies of Muskrats may be found at suitable ponds, swamps, 

 and sluggish streams in all parts of the Adirondacks. 



These animals are in the main herbivorous, subsisting chiefly upon 

 the roots of marsh grasses and aquatic plants. Still, they occasional- 

 ly prey upon fish, and sometimes manifest evidences of cannibalism, 

 devouring those of their own kind that are found dead or wounded 

 and unable to escape. They are extremely fond of the fresh-water 

 mussels ( U^iio and Anodoii) and large quantities of empty shells may 

 often be found near their homes. 



Although the Muskrat and the beaver are the most strictly aquatic 

 of all our mammals, the former not infrequently, in autumn, visits 

 orchards in the neighborhood of water-courses to feed upon the apples 

 that have fallen to the ground ; and I have known it to follow up 

 drains and enter the cellars of inhabited houses, and to attack the 



