302 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
left over night to absorb the poison. Distribute the 
poisoned wheat, a half teaspoonful at a place, at the 
mouth of the squirrel-burrows; do not scatter broad- 
east on account of the danger of killing birds. For 
the larger ground-squirrels reduce the quantity of 
wheat to 25 pounds and the water in proportion. 
Experiments in California in destroying the digger 
ground-squirrel (Clitellus beecheyi) with pieces of, 
sugar-beets into which crystals of strychnia sulphate 
had been inserted with a knife gave good results; and 
even better success has followed the use of poisoned 
barley-heads. 
Poisoning ypocket-gophers. The pocket-go- 
phers are readily poisoned by strychnine, espe- 
cially in the late fall and early winter. Crys- 
tals: may be inserted into pieces of potato, 
carrot, prunes or raisins, and inserted into the 
gopher tunnels several feet from fresh mounds. 
Any strong prod will answer to make the holes 
into which the baits may be dropped. These 
holes need not be closed. When the animals 
are in ditch-banks the tunnel should be fol- 
lowed by digging with a garden trowel from 
the freshest mound to the main runway, the 
bait left there, and the opening closed. Car- 
bon bisulphide is successful with gophers only 
when the soil is moist and packed. 
