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 
