100 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 
pains of countless generations; and when once swept away 
it can never be recovered. 
By the care of our flocks we have become more sympathetic 
towards tame animals. By taking thought for the welfare 
of the remnant of our wild animals, we shall become more 
sympathetic toward them, more appreciative of their fine 
powers and their esthetic values. We shall become more 
civilized; for, as the late Professor Shaler assured us, ‘“The 
sense of duty which mastery of the earth gives, is to be one 
of the moral gifts of modern learning.” 
Study 13. The Wild Mammals of the Farm 
This study includes a little trapping expedition, and some 
examination of captured wild animals and observations of 
their haunts and habits. The tools needed will be pocket 
knives, an individual supply of small mouse traps and bait 
(rolled oats will do for bait), and some cord and fine wire for 
snares. Since members of the class will be able to capture 
only a few of the over-abundant little rodents, others should 
be available in captivity. Woodchucks, chipmunks, etc., 
may be kept buried in a box in hibernation, if obtained in 
autumn. Raccoons, opossums, etc., may be purchased from 
dealers. They may often be borrowed from persons in the 
neighborhood who keep them as pets. 
The program of work will consist of: 
1. A trip along some meadow fence-row and about the 
grassy borders of a wood, taking up a line of traps (that should 
have been set the day before and marked as to location), 
removing the catch and again baiting them. They should be 
set in the runways of meadow mice, wood mice, shrews, moles, 
etc. Little “Zip” traps, or others of the guillotine type, are 
lightest and cheapest (three cents or less apiece in quantities), 
and are quite efficient. They are baited by sprinkling some 
flakes of oats about the trigger. They are best covered by a 
