the open. Stomachs of trapped individuals of ^i.xcJcs dis- 
tended with the rulp and the ereet Juice of the cane. The etomaoh 
of this animal ie much larger in proportion to its bulk of body th»\n 
is the case in Orrsomys. 
The Swamp Rabbit (StIvIIelub p. paludieola) was eotron in thie 
region and wee responsible for a small part at least of the damage. 
Old droppings of these animals sere in mu ny cases made up entirely of 
remains of enne pulp. One that wee shot however had the stomp, ch fill- 
ed entirely with other matter. 
Under normal conditions cane in theee fields would have been 
harvested in December. Ac it happened there wae no eyrup mill con- 
venient at that tine ( and this cane was left standing for use as esed 
for the following crop. Had it been cut at the proper timo the amount 
of damage would have been greatly leosenod. 
Habits of the Cotton Rat. 
The slightly elevated ditch b nks that run through the cane 
fields forced the main habitations of the cotton rate and in these 
the animals lived apparently in oolonles about which the ground was 
Ka.de soft by their burrows. The base for these runs was often the 
crab holes tunneled in the ground. Broad, poorly defined runways 
extended through the grass and rubbish along the ditch banks, eoao- 
I * « 
times continuous for ton or fifteen feet but more often definitely 
outlined for distances of from one to three fe>t only. From these 
poorly marked trails led out into the oane. A* the bottoms of the 
ditohes burrows often opened into the mud and water and long runs 
were found in such situations eo that Slrmodan seems to pay little 
attention to *«t. The animals were mere or less active by day and 
