Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-04-15
MOUSE PLAQUES.
They Excel the Locust Affections of Egyp
of Old.


1t is well known that the fauna of
America, especially that of the higher
animals, presents large number of
peculiar types.
Under ordinary circumstances field
mice are not at all abundant, so that
at times naturalists can secure speci-
mems of many species only with diff
Guilty. The most inconceivable increase
and abundance during certain years,
to such an extent that they become a
national calamity, is thus the more re-
markable. In the colony of Lourence
one of these remarkable visitations has
thus been described: Inthe months of
May and June, 1876, they suddenly ap-
peared in enormous numbers. They
invaded the maize fields in such great
numbers that the corn seemed literally
alive with them, destroying in a few
days every thing that was edible; and
where but short time before bushels
Of grain might have been harvested
not an ear remained, and the noise
produced by their nibbing and climb
ing was audible for considerable dis
tance. After the corn-fields were
devastated the potatoes next received
their attention. Only the largest were
eaten in, the ground; such as were
transportable were carried away and
hidden in hollow trees, or other re-
treats, for future use. Gourds and
pumpkins, even the hardest, were
gnawed through and eaten. Of green
food, such as clover, oats, barley, not
leaf was left standing; even weeds
were cut down and the inner parts
eaten out.
In the house the struggle for exist
ence of these long tailed invaders was
truly amazing. In many of the dwell
ings hundreds were killed in single
day. The cats could contribute but
little aid fighting such plague, for not
only were many of the rats so large
that it would have been an unequal
contest, but by their great number they
drove the cats actually from the houses,
not to return until the plague was
passed. Nothing except what was
composed of iron, stone or glass was
spared from their destructiveness
furniture, clothes, hats, books-every
thing bore the traces of their teeth.
They gnawed the hoofs of cows and
horses in the stable, literally ate up
fatted hogs, and often bit away the
hair of persons during sleep. They
penetrated all apartments and gnawed
their way through boards and walls OF
houses. bitches that were dug about
granaries did not suffice; the mice
would climb over each other in some
corner or other, and thus reach the
top.
The foregoing account of one occur.
renee in Lourence will suffice to show
to what an extent the plague reaches
The same province had suffered simi
ilarly in 1S43 and 1868, and in all prob
ability will again in 1889. Our aston
ishment at the strange appearance anC
disappearance of such swarms of ami
NAL life is greatly increased when VIZ
perceive in what close relation O.
cause and effect it stands with the pres
ence or absence of food supply; anC
probably nowhere among the vertebrate
animals is the relation more apparen
than here.
This food supply is derived from the
seeds of large bamboo grass (Ta
quarry or Cresciuma) growing through
out Brazil. This grass grows in dens,
thickets to the height of thirty or fort,
feet, and bears very large quantity O
seed. Its natural history is remarka
BILE. At regular intervals, varying il
the different species from six to thirt.
years, it natures and blooms and thei
disappears. Yet more remarkable i
the uniformity with which it attain
maturity throughout an entire province
if not the whole southern part of Bra
zil.
Similar plaques, though far less il
extent, have occurred in Europe, il
which the field-mice unaccountably APP
peared in greatly increased numbers
One may we'll think what would be tn,
result were these little, almost insig
niiicant creatures everywhere in sucl
wise to take the ascendency. Whel
one considers that on an average o
every one or two months from five t,
eight young are born, and that thes
young become mature in few month
themselves, he will not be surprised t.
know that single pair of common
field-mice, in the course of singl
summer, would increase to twenty
three thousand individuals. Could a.
the conditions which now keep them i
check be removed, every living thin
upon the earth would be consumed i
| a half dozan vaars Sc;e0ee