130 



"Dissolve an ounce of strychnia sulphate in a pint of boiling 

 water; add a pint of thick sugar sirup and stir thoroughly. The pre- 

 pared sirup may be scented by a few drops of oil of anise or rhodium, 

 but this is not essential. A half ounce of borax is said to keep the 

 mixture from molding. 



"The above quantity (a quart) of sirup is enough to poison a 

 half bushel of wheat or corn, but smaller proportional quantities of 

 grain and sirup may be mixed as needed. If after thorough mixing 

 the solution is not sufficient to wet all the grain, add a little water. 

 After standing over night, if the grain is too wet, a little dry corn 

 meal will take up the excess of moisture. If oatmeal is used as a bait, 

 when the mass is wet throughout with the sirup, it may be used 

 immediately. 



"Because of the danger of destroying native birds, such as quail, 

 sparrows, and others, the poisoned bait should not be placed in 

 exposed situations, but under shelters which will admit mice but 

 exclude birds. Wide boards lying upon thin cross pieces of wood are 

 excellent for the purpose. For pine mice baits may be placed in the 

 underground tunnels without endangering birds. For other mice 

 pieces of drain tile about one and a half inches in diameter may be 

 laid along the trails, and the baits inserted into the tiles with a long 

 knife or spoon. Tiles are recommended by the French Minister of 

 Agriculture, but old tin cans with flattened ends or small openings 

 are excellent substitutes. 



"In winter the following plan is especially recommended for 

 orchards and nurseries: 



"Cut small twigs from branches of apple trees (suckers are excel- 

 lent for this purpose) and either dip them in the strychnine sirup 

 or apply the sirup to them with a brush. Scatter the poisoned twigs 

 near the trees to be protected. This plan is excellent for either field 

 mice or rabbits, and it entirely obviates the danger of poisoning birds 

 or domestic animals." (Bulletin No. 31, Biological Survey, 1907.) 



Various other methods of repressing field mice are discussed 

 in the bulletin just quoted, together with a general exposition 

 of the whole subject. 



It is quite likely, that of the two species of mice described, 

 the pine mice, where abundant, are much more harmful than the 

 meadow mice. Where field mice are troublesome, however, it 

 is not always an easy matter to determine which of the two 

 species may be responsible for the damage done. The meadow 

 mice are known to subsist largely on useless, wild plants and 



