FIHEU ZIHEtlllCUS. 275 



prey upon Mice. Pre-eminent among these may be mentioned the 

 marsh and rough-legged hawks, all the smaller hawks and owls, the 

 shrike, the skunk, and the weasels. Thus the farmer in his short- 

 sightedness omits no opportunity to deprive himself of nature's means 

 of holding in check the vermin that ruin his crops. 



When a field is overrun by Meadow Mice, immc;nse numbers of 

 them may be captured in narrow trenches, a spade's breadth in width, 

 and a foot and a hall (467 mm.) in depth. The trenches should be 

 a trifle wider at the bottom than at the top. Into these the Mice 

 tumble, without being able to escape. 



The Meadow Mouse is exceedingly prolific, giving birth to from 

 four to eieht younij' at a time, and havin^- several litters in a season. 

 In early spring its nests are generally made just beneath the surface, 

 but after the grass has attained a little height they are usually placed 

 in slight depressions directl)- on the ground. 



FIBER ZIBETHICUS (i-i-"* ^"-ier. 

 AInskrat ; MusqnasJi. 



Colonies of Muskrats may b(^, found at suitable j)onds, swamps, 

 and slueeish streams in all parts of the Adirondacks. 



These animals are in the main herbivorous, subsisting chiefly upon 

 the roots of marsh grasses and aquatic plants. Still, they occasional- 

 ly prey upon fish, and sonietimes nianifest e\'idences of cannibalism, 

 devouring those of their own kind that are found dead or wounded 

 and unal)le to escape. They are extremeh" fond of the fresh-water 

 mussels ( i'uio and Anocion) and large quantities of empty shells may 

 often be found near their homes. 



Although the Muskrat and the beaver are the most stricd>- aquatic 

 of all our mammals, the former not infrequendy, in autumn, visits 

 orchards in the neighborhood of water-courses to feed upon the apples 

 that have fallen to the ground; and I have known it to follow up 

 drains and enter the cellars of inhabited houses, and to attack the 



