NOTES ON THE MAMMALS OF LAKE MAXINKUCKEE 19 



common in the low marshy meadows such as are usually submerged 

 during the winter and spring, during which time the mice must 

 retreat to higher ground. They do not hibernate but continue very 

 active throughout the winter. In the spring when the snow melts 

 away their runways that were under it become quite conspicuous. 



This species is very destructive to grasses and other cultivated 

 crops. When the corn is cut and left in shocks in the field these 

 mice establish themselves in nearly every shock, building a nest 

 near the center and feeding destructively upon the corn. The 

 amount of damage done in this way to the average field of corn is 

 very considerable and far in excess of that done to the poultry 

 yard by the hawks which, if not destroyed by the farmer, would 

 do much to hold the Field Mice in check. The Marsh Hawk, 

 Sparrow Hawk, Pigeon Hawk and Cooper's Hawk, as well as the 

 various owls all prey on these mice. 



On October 24, 1904, a Meadow Mouse was found on the lake 

 shore, beheaded, possibly by some bird of prey, November i, 

 1904, a cat was seen with one. December u, 1904, one was seen 

 near a muskrat house in Norris Inlet marsh. 



15. Fiber zibethicus (Linnaeus). 

 Muskrat. 



The Muskrat is a familiar and well-known animal throughout 

 North America wherever there are marshes, ponds or streams. 

 Among the hundreds of small lakes and smaller ponds in northern 

 Indiana there is probably not one that is not the home of one to 

 several pairs of these interesting rodents. At and about Lake 

 Maxinkuckee it is quite common, albeit not often seen except 

 by the few elect who know when and where to look for it. In 

 the autumn and early winter, especially in the evening and early 

 morning, they may be seen swimming about or heard splash- 

 ing among the weeds near shore. It is at this time that they 

 begin to build their houses, and day by day those who pass along 

 the shores of the lakes or about the ponds and marshes may notice 

 the increase in size of the piles of Chara and rushes of which they 

 build their winter homes. These homes or houses are built almost 

 anywhere along the shore in shallow water or even well out in small 



