186 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
the skunks, badgers, minks, ferrets and similar 
animals of the weasel family,—albeit they do 
other things which are less pleasing to the 
farmer. The smaller weasels easily traverse 
the surface-runways of the larger species of 
Microtus, and even follow them into under- 
ground burrows. The larger weasels feed 
upon . pocket-gophers, prairie-dogs, ground- 
squirrels, and various kinds of mice and rats. 
While occasionally they capture game- or song- 
birds, as well as poultry, their principal food 
consists of injurious rodents. 
This general statement applies to minks, 
skunks and badgers, as we shall see when we 
come to speak of these animals more particu- 
larly; and nothing could be more unwise than 
to kill these animals or allow anyone else to 
kill them upon farm or ranch, except in the oc- 
casional case where one is known to have ac- 
quired the habit of taking eggs or poultry. 
In most cases the blame is placed on the wrong 
head. Almost all skunks leave birds entirely 
alone, as also does the badger, which in the 
gopher country ought to be protected with the 
utmost solicitude. It has been repeatedly no- 
