100 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



pains of countless generations; and when once swept away 

 it can never be recovered. 



By the care of our flocks we have become more sympathetic 

 towards tame animals. By taking thought for the welfare 

 of the remnant of our wild animals, we shall become more 

 sympathetic toward them, more appreciative of their fine 

 powers and their esthetic values. We shall become more 

 civilized; for, as the late Professor Shaler assured us, "The 

 sense of duty which mastery of the earth gives, is to be one 

 of the moral gifts of modern learning." 



Study 13. The Wild Mammals of the Farm 



This study includes a little trapping expedition, and some 

 examination of captured wild animals and observations of 

 their haunts and habits. The tools needed will be pocket 

 knives, an individual supply of small mouse traps and bait 

 (rolled oats will do for bait), and some cord and fine wire for 

 snares. Since members of the class will be able to capture 

 only a few of the over-abundant little rodents, others should 

 be available in captivity. Woodchucks, chipmunks, etc., 

 may be kept buried in a box in hibernation, if obtained in 

 autumn. Raccoons, opossums, etc., may be purchased from 

 dealers. They may often be borrowed from persons in the 

 neighborhood who keep them as pets. 



The program of work will consist of: 



i. A trip along some meadow fence-row and about the 

 grassy borders of a wood, taking up a line of traps (that should 

 have been set the day before and marked as to location), 

 removing the catch and again baiting them. They should be 

 set in the runways of meadow mice, wood mice, shrews, moles, 

 etc. Little "Zip" traps, or others of the guillotine type, are 

 lightest and cheapest (three cents or less apiece in quantities), 

 and are quite efficient. They are baited by sprinkling some 

 flakes of oats about the trigger. They are best covered by a 



