THE PANTRY MOUSE 41 



they eat spoil large quantities by trampling 

 and dragging their tails over or through it, 

 and leaving their acrid-smelling traces. Where 

 they are numerous, this becomes a very serious 

 pest; and it is only the most slovenly house- 

 keepers who will permit their presence. A 

 good cat, kept hungry enough to make her 

 eager to go a-mousing, is probably the best 

 safeguard; but traps are useful especially the 

 cheap and handy little guillotine traps de- 

 scribed in the last chapter. Of course a wise 

 person will stop up all holes, clean out the 

 nests which may be found in an extraordinary 

 variety of snug places, and make the little 

 beasts as unwelcome as possible. They carry 

 fleas and other parasites; and are often sorely 

 afflicted with warbles; but it is not known that 

 they transport the flea which communicates the 

 microbe of the plague. However, their pretty 

 feet often dabble in filth and may bring into 

 the house dangerous germs, so that it is not 

 well to permit them the freedom of your 

 kitchen or pantry. 



Mice carrying pathogenic bacilli. In a re- 

 port of an investigation of the transmission of 



