The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-01-22
A TOWNSHIPS HARD LUCK.
First Overrun ny Mice, then by Hawks. Fol-
lowed by Aoles. Weasels. sk unks. and Rats:

lev 90 ny Moless w easelss Bkunkss and hatss
BRISTOL. Pa, Jan. 21.-Milford township,
this county. is the champion township Of the
State for farm and household pests. Since 1888
each year has been made remarkable In Mil
ford by the presence Of q different pest, each in
great force. In 1888 1t was field mice. From
all parts Of the town the farmers reported this
little farm nuisance 80 numerous and destruc-
tive that in some cases entire meadows were
destroyed. The mice appeared suddenly and
mysteriously, as II by prsconcerted arrange
ment, simultaneously all over the township, and
disappeared in the same way. The next year.
led thither no doubt by hope that the field mice
would be there again. hawks came in formidable
numbers. and lowered daily over the town. In
s~pecting every nook and corner OF 1t In search
Of prey. The field mice, which naturalists say
are the first object OF a hawk'sv visit to farms.
not having located themselves In Milford in
1884, the hawks. not to be entirely left In seek
ing that locality, began q promisouous and
persistent sampling of farm poultry yards. and
continued the practice until there was 80 little
left to sample that the m%arauding birds aban-
Milford township was the chief incident 10 the
cents on evsry hawk kkiilled n the State.
AS the great number OF deld mice In Milford
bOWu oIip ~ y voc tho ShaoS Va
the coming OF the hawks In 1884, and the con-
sequent placing Of those birds under the ban
as outlaws OF the air, 80 did the unwonted
1886 lead directly TO the repeal Of the law plac-
Ing q bounty on hawks and the restoring to
them q freedom to prey %her T,t th aH,d chose hose
OF 1885 attracted hawks In great numbers In
time for them to inangurato q wholesale and
united raid upon the little meadow killers, and
while the hawks were engaged In. this landabls
work Of extermination not a single chicken
was lost to a farmer or any other person In
that community. Consequently the cry went
out that II was field mice that hawks wanted,
thropic legislators removed. the bounty from
that greatly, misunderstood and previously
cry farmer who went out to plough and SOW dis:
covered his folds corrugated. by a network OF
sinuous uph.avals Of the earth from end to end
AND andd side to % side q Gh each ,bs s RfiSJ ht; b These s,0 Msrs
staked out his claims. The moie's occupancy
Of the land were not for long. however, for on
The weasel came IN hordes and wormed itself
into the tunnels OF the mole with such prompt
ness and vim that 1t was not long before the
were deserted ruins, But the weasel, for the
good work he had done for the farmer in the
maSSSd FAD collected pSy from the poultry yard;
MspKiis chiinoa. The nicknsme for Nephuii
chtnee Is skunk. Lteame carly IN tho season
and staysd late. When tho skunk at last re-
ieved Milford ofits companionsbip the poultry
yards OF the, town were for the third time poor
~ populated Tor the coming winter.
Last year rats bore down upon the devoted
These rats are large. gray. and savage. Thsy
barns. but do not neglect ssIIars SAd garcia
tVraps' DoisoA dsgs and fssKsts hsfs hssa