WOOD-RATS, PACK-EATS, ETC. 107 



cotton that has been pulled from the bolls and 

 dragged under cover where its seeds can be 

 eaten with safety, while a small amount is car- 

 ried away for bedding. Considering the great 

 area of the cotton-growing country, all infested 

 with these busy pilferers, the aggregate loss of 

 cotton must represent a large sum. 



"A simple and effective remedy," as Bailey 

 reminds the planter, "would be to clean out the 

 borders of fields by burning the weeds, grass 

 and rubbish accumulating along the fences 

 year after year as a harbor for various rodent 

 and insect pests and a perennial source of sup- 

 ply for weed-seeds. If these borders were 

 burned yearly, mowed and raked, treated with 

 oil or chemicals to prevent weed-growth, closely 

 pastured or thoroughly cultivated, the hawks 

 and owls would quickly dispose of the rodents 

 which would then have no protecting cover. ' ' 



Jumping -mice, Allied to the true or murine 

 mice, and even more nearly to the Old World 

 jerboas, are the jumping-mice, pocket-mice and 

 kangaroo-rats of the family Zapodidce, all in- 

 teresting and beautiful little animals but not 

 requiring much attention here, because their 



