HOUSE KATS AND MICE. 



17 



parts by weight of corn meal and one part of arsenic with whites of 

 eggs into a stiff dough. 



An old formula for poisoning rats and mice with arsenic is the 

 following, adapted from an English source: 



Take a pound of oatmeal, a poimd of coarse' brown sugar^ and a 

 spoonful of arsenic. Mix well together and put the composition into 

 an earthen jar. Put a tablespoonful at a place in runs frequented 

 by rats. 



Phosphorus. — For poisoning rats and mice, phosphorus is used 

 almost as commonly as arsenic, and undoubtedly it is effective when 

 given in an attractive bait. The phosphorus paste of the drug 

 stores is usually dissolved yellow phosphorus, mixed with glucose or 

 other substances. The proportion of phosphorus varies from one- 

 fourth of 1 per cent to 4 per cent. The first amount is too small 

 to be always effective and the last is dangerously inflammable. When 

 homemade preparations of phosphorus are used there is much dan- 

 ger of burning the person or of setting fire to crops or buildings. 

 In the Western States many fires have resulted from putting out 

 homemade phosphorus poisons for ground squirrels, and entire fields 

 of ripe grain have been destroyed in this way. Even with com- 

 mercial pastes the action of sun and rain changes the phosphorus 

 and leaches out the glucose until a highly inflammable residue is left. 



It is o-f ten claimed that phosphorus eaten by rats or mice dries up 

 or mummifies the body so that no odor results. The statement has 

 no foundation in fact. No known poison will prevent decomposition 

 of the body of an animal that died from its effects. Equally mis- 

 leading is the statement that rats poisoned with phosphorus do not 

 die on the premises. Owing to its slower operation, no doubt a 

 larger portion escape into the open before dying than when strych- 

 nin is used. 



The Biological Survey does not recommend the use of phosphorus 

 as a poison for rodents. 



Squills. — The squill, or sea leek,* is a favorite rat poison in many 

 parts of Europe and is well worthy of trial in America. It is rapid 

 and very deadly in its action, and rats seem to eat it readily. The 

 poison is used in several ways. Two ounces of dry squills, powdered, 

 may be thoroughly mixed with eight ounces of toasted cheese or of 

 butter and meal and put out in runs of rats or mice. Another for- 

 mula recommends two parts of squills to three parts of finely 

 • chopped bacon, mixed with meal enough to make it cohere. This is 

 baked in small cakes. 



Poison in poultry houses. — For poisoning rats in buildings and yards 

 occupied by poultry the following method is recommended : Two 



1 Scilla maritima. 



