OTHER ANIMALS 675 



Dens are usually among rocks or in washed-out places, seldom far 

 below the surface of the ground. They sometimes hunt in numbers 

 when the game is large. Their food consists chiefly of animal matter 

 and ranges from the larger hoofed animals to the smallest rodents, 

 and even includes insects, reptiles, birds, fish, crustaceans, etc. 

 Coyotes destroy many injurious mammals, and in this way are some 

 benefit to farming interests. Considerable game is destroyed as well 

 as poultry, and the young of the farm stock ; great ravages have been 

 done to sheep. 



Bounty systems are maintained in many states for the destruc- 

 tion of these pests. Ranchmen find dogs a protection against their 

 ravages, particularly the large, swift-running breed, as staghounds, 

 Russian wolfhounds, and greyhounds. Poison has probably killed 

 the greatest number of adult animals, although some have been 

 trapped and many have been captured in the hunt. Fencing against 

 wild animals has proved to be the most satisfactory in some coun- 

 tries, notably Australia and South Africa. (Agr. Dept. P. B. 226.) 



GOPHERS. 



The gophers are quite distinct from the ground squirrels, which 

 are sometimes called gophers. Unlike squirrels, they are usually not 

 found on high lands, very far from water or tender root vegetation. 

 Gophers prefer loose soils, the burrows usually run within a foot or 

 less of the surface, and sometimes extend a total distance of a hun- 

 dred feet or more. The pocket gopher subsists chiefly upon the roots 

 of various succulent plants, he is also fond of garden crops. The 

 large cheek pouches are used to carry the food to the store chambers, 

 as this animal stores up food for the winter. There are several meth- 

 ods used to destroy these animals, and generally they are very similar 

 to those used to destroy the ground squirrel; namely, poisoning, 

 drowning, and fumigating. (Nevada B. 58; Wyo. B. 12.) 



MUSKRAT. 



On account of the scarcity of many of the larger and more valu- 

 able fur bearing animals the muskrat is one of the most important 

 fur bearing animals of this country; while mink remains popular and 

 is a well wearing fur, yet muskrat is becoming more popular each 

 year because of its fair wearing qualities and the great variety of uses 

 to which it is adapted. The muskrat when full grown is about four 

 times as large as the common brown rat. The tail is characteristic of 

 the genus ; it is about two-thirds as long as the head and body com- 

 bined. This animal derives its name from its musky odor. The 

 name musquash is the Cree Indian name and has been used a long 

 time by fur dealers. 



Muskrats are chiefly nocturnal, but are often active in daylight, 

 especially when building winter houses. These houses are com- 

 posed of rushes, grasses, nags, etc. ; this mass rests on the bottom of 

 shallow ponds or marshes, and projects a foot or two above the sur- 

 face. It is used as a winter home. Where burrows are available, the 

 muskrats use them instead of building houses. Normally the animals 

 mate in March. The first litter in April, the second in June or July, 

 and the third in August or September. In favorable seasons a fourth 



