POISONING AND TRAPPING = 297 
lengths. The poisoned food ‘is distributed near 
or in the mouth of burrows, a small pinch at a 
place, especially in cold weather, when the an- 
imals do not feed in the open. Green alfalfa 
bait should not be put out when the sun is hot. 
In the absence of alfalfa, crushed wheat, oat- 
meal and corn, among the grains, and seeds of 
various plants, as the tomato, dandelion, sun- 
flower and others, may be substituted. The 
bait should be soaked over night in a poisoned 
sirup, a quart of which is enough to poison half 
a bushel of grain. 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 oat- 
meal is used as a bait, when the mass is wet 
throughout with the sirup, it may be used im- 
mediately. , 
Because of the danger of destroying native 
birds, such as quail, the poisoned bait should 
be placed only 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 
