Mammal Study 



227 



stones or stacks of com. It is the nest of this field mouse which the 

 bumblebee so often takes possession of, after it is deserted. The meadow 

 mouse IS a good fighter, sitting up like a woodchuck and facing its enemy 

 bravely. It needs to be courageous, for it is preyed upon by almost every 

 creature that feeds upon small animals; the hawks and owls especially 

 are its enemies. It is well for the farmer that these mice have so many 

 enemies, for they multiply rapidly and would otherwise soon overrun and 

 destroy the grain fields. This mouse is an excellent swimmer. 



A part of winter work, is to make the pupils familiar with the tracks 

 of the meadow mice and how to distinguish them from other tracks. 



Mouse traps. 



The bow trap. i. A smooth splint or a peeled twig. 



2. Splint bowed and tied at D, the bait inserted at C. 



3. The inverted bowl balanced on splint bow- 

 Figure 4, trap. 



Trapping Field Mice — Probably wild animals have endured more 

 cruelty through the agency of traps than through any other form of 

 human persecution. The savage steel traps often catch the animal by the 

 leg, holding it until it gnaws off the imprisoned foot, and thus escapes 

 maimed and handicapped for its future struggle for food ; or if the trap 

 gets a strong hold, the poor creature may suffer tortures during a long 

 period, before the owner of the trap appears to put an end to its sufferings 

 by death. If box traps are used, they are often neglected and the poor 

 creature imprisoned, is left to languish and starve. The teacher cannot 

 enforce too strongly upon the child the ethics of trapping. Impress 

 upon him that the box traps are far less cruel ; but that if set, they must 

 be examined regularly and not neglected. The study of mice affords a 

 good opportunity for giving the children a lesson in humane trapping. 

 Let them set a figure 4 or a bowl trap, which they must examine 

 every morning. The little prisoners may be brought to school 

 and studied; meanwhile, they should be treated kindly and fed bounti- 

 fully. After a mouse has been studied, it should be set free, even though 

 it be one of the quite pestiferous field mice. The moral effect of killing an 

 animal, after a child has become thoroughly interested in it and its life, 

 is always bad. 



References — Claws and Hoofs, Johomot, American Animals, Stone & 

 Cram; Secrets of the Woods, Long; Wild Life, Ingersoll; Familiar Wild 

 Animals, Lottridge. 



