28 



SPERMOPHILES OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



down a hole the Length of the trap chain — about 14 inches (355 milli- 

 meters). Eighty-three cubic centimeters of bisulphide was poured 

 into the hole, and in five minutes the skunk was apparently dead, 

 though its heart was still beating. It had not discharged its scent 

 fluid. I handled it freely, rolling it about on the ground, but it could 

 not move. I put it back in the hole, and upon returning three hours 

 later found that it had revived. 



Canadian, Tex.. August 28. — (8) Caught a little spotted skunk (SpiJo- 

 gale) in a trap : dug a hole 10 inches (250 millimeters) deep and drew the 

 skunk along till it fell into the hole. After throwing some dry grass 

 over the hole 18 cubic centimeters (about a tablespoonful) of bisul- 

 phide was poured on it. In six minutes the skunk was dead and had 

 not discharged its weapon of offense. 



(9) A pocket gopher ( Geomys) was allowed to enter its hole for a dis- 

 tance of 5 feet (1.5 meters). Poured in bisulphide and in five minutes 

 drew out the gopher not quite dead. 



Woodward, OMa., August 29. — (10) Another pocket gopher entered 

 its hole for a distance of 8 feet (2.4 meters). Poured in 36 cubic centi- 

 meters of bisulphide. In six minutes the gopher was not quite dead, 

 and after a time revived. 



(11) I let a pocket gopher, with a string attached, enter its hole a 

 distance of 4 feet (1.2 meters) and poured in 29 cubic centimeters of 

 bisulphide. In six minutes it was not dead. I put it back in the hole 

 and in three minutes more took it out dead. 



(12) A pocket gopher, with string attached, entered a hole 2 inches 

 (50 millimeters) in diameter, a distance of 10 feet (3 meters). Poured 

 in 44 cubic centimeters of bisulphide. In ten minutes the gopher was 

 not affected. I dug out the hole and not only found that it forked 

 between the animal and the entrance but was packed with fresh dirt, 

 thereby preventing the fumes from being effective. 



Kiowa, Kans., August 31. — (13) A pocket gopher was placed in a hole 

 o' inches (150 millimeters) from the entrance and 29 cubic centimeters of 

 bisulphide of carbon poured in. Six minutes later the gopher was only 

 stupefied and soon revived; the gas had passed by and flowed down 



the hole. 



Washington, D. G. — (14) Three half-grown brown rats (Mus decu- 

 manus) were separately placed in a 2-liter glass jar and subjected to 

 various quantities of bisulphide of carbon. 

 ( 250 cubic centimeters, J 

 With < 200 cubic centimeters, > the rat died in four minutes. 



With 100 cubic centimeters the rat survived. 

 These experiments were entirely satisfactory so far as properly car- 

 ried out, but were too few to afford a basis for definite conclusions. 

 The results are shown in the accompanying table: 



