298 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
placed in the underground tunnels. For other 
mice pieces of drain tile may be laid along the 
trails, and the baits inserted into the tiles with 
a long knife or spoon; old tin cans with flattened 
ends or small openings are excellent substitutes 
for tiles. One trick of wolf-poisoners in Col- 
orado, was to make their strychnine ‘pellets 
chiefly of lard so that if not eaten at night 
they would melt and soak into the ground, out 
of danger, in the next day’s warm sun. 
Winter is the most favorable season for poi- 
soning field-mice, and the best time to set the 
poison is in the evening of amild day. At that 
season cut small twigs or suckers from apple- 
trees, 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. 
Poisoning rabbits. Winter has proved to be 
the best time for poisoning rabbits, especially 
the western jack-rabbits, since there is no green 
food to attract them from the prepared 
titbits. Pieces of apple, carrot, sweet potato, 
