THE MAMMALS OF NEW JERSEY. 69 



generally regarded as an injurious species, Mr. S. N. Rhoads, in 

 an able article in the American Naturalist, 1898, p. 571, demon- 

 strates that it has been much maligned. After an exhaustive 

 study, he shows that 90 to 100 per cent, of the food of the 

 meadow mouse is vegetable, 60 to 80 per cent, consisting of 

 grasses, etc., almost exclusively coarse species like rushes, sedges, 

 salt grass (Spartina) and Indian grass (Andropogon), 5 to 10 

 per cent, roots, and i to 5 per cent, grain and seeds. "The arable 

 land," says Mr. Rhoads, "of every well-kept and cultivated farm 

 or nursery, whether in pasture, grass, grain, orchard, truck or 

 young trees, is practically deserted by this mouse. In short, it 

 can only exist where a food supply is found in almost every in- 

 stance synonymous with neglect and waste on the part of the 

 farmer. It very rarely disturbs seeds, fruits, tubers, roots or 

 vegetables during the growing season, and does little' damage in 

 winter to those buried in the ground, most of the ravages in these 

 cases being the work of the pine mouse (Microtus pinetorum), 

 and the white-footed mouse (Peroniyscus leticopiis)." 



Mr. Rhoads refers to the claims of utility advanced in behalf 

 O'f the large hawks and owls, on the ground that they destroy so 

 many "injurious" meadow mice, but shows further that such 

 prolific animals as these meadow mice might soon, from sheer 

 overcrowding, be forced to overrun the cultivated grounds and 

 do damage that they do not now think of, should any of the 

 natural checks that Nature places upon their increase be removed. 

 Such occurrences are matters of record in the old world where 

 predacious birds have been destroyed. 



The meadow mice are active all the year and on a warm day 

 in winter we may see them passing along their more exposed sur- 

 face runways with wonderful rapidity or occasionally venturing 

 forth and sitting hunched up into little balls of brown fur, while 

 they nibble some choice morsel. 



Arvicola riparia Abbott, Cook's Geol. of N. J., 1868, p. 758. — 

 Abbott, A Naturalist's Rambles, 1885. p. 450. 



Microtus pennsylvanicus Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila., 

 1897, p. 26. — Rhoads, Mam. Pa. and N. J., 1903, p. 97. 



