The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-02
HISTORICAL PLAQUES OF MICE
Accounts of Some Noted VIsitations OF
These Tiny Rodents,


These Tiny Rodents.
New York. Jan. 1-Ernest Ingersoll
in the Evening Post writes;
British agricultural journals have had
much 20 say during the past autumn Of
irruptiOns of mice in various parts Of
the United Kingdom, where they ap-
peared in such numbers as often to do
serious damage to growing crops and
10 stored grain and vegetables. The
harm done, however, has frequently been
surpassed in times past.
Indeed, one Of the curiOsties of what
may be called industrial zoology is the
recurring plaques Of mice that from time
t. time have afflicted various parts OF
the world. Egypt is not good country
for nlice-not only on account of Its nat
ural features, but because of the cuiti-
vation of cats there from time immem-
0rial--or this plague might have been
added TO the arguments tnat went 50
tar towards convincing the Pharaoh of
the Exodus that it was wise 30 let the
Jews depart In regions where settle
nents are mingled with large tracts OF
Wild land, however, enormous incur
rions of various species Of mice have
from time ITO time greatly injured, or
even desolated, extensive areas OF
farms. Thus French-Canadian writ
er of 200 years ago notes that Prince Ed
ward Island was subject TO be overru7
by these little pests every seven years.
The mystic potency Of the number seven
had not been lost at that time. and its
t.-n in, nrrs
strength 10 the statement, even Il ii
does not add accuracy. Later writer's
we're less precise, but made similar
.tatements in regard TO both Prince Ed
ward Island and Nova Scotia Anthem
tic information, however, exists as to
the year 1775, When a colony OF Scotch
people from Dun1fries had just become
wei settled at what is now George
town. Their crops promised well. but as
soon as warm weather began field mice
Accumulated 50 numeTously as to de-
your every plant, even 20 the potatoes in
the ground. They boldly ertered the
dwellings, of tie settlers, and, when they
could got no ether food. they even gnav-
si the leather in the binding of books.
The consequence was that the settlers
we're brought TO the verge OF starvation,
ana would undoubtedly have Qerished
hai they not been able TO procure sup
plies os potatoes from an oder French
fetnement some distance away. One Of
fhe island harbors is eth called Souris,
- Mouse, perhaps In memory of some
s8oa q visitation az this.
The year 1915 was long known In Nova
sosi. as the year OF mice" The pre-
essing winter had been uruzually cold
SO snowy, ard the spring gas late. but
esass gIe early growth - tas t9f1y crops
pats Dsgsn TO appear. snd continually
sag2Fg.ie5 in eastern Nova Scotia urtsil
Ssss a2na1e- was prodsgious. Al TIC
sSes SPECIES were represented. brt the
3s4 gsSs q the horde consisted Of tlra
ssss-E--s4-ie3 meadow mouse or vols
kAaFzogs) Throughout district eigIty
zszs.Ss ~ length by fifty miles wide
81 ac5 rs-ss consisted mostly of new and
.s9-si-S5 settlements more or less sur
re-2Se2 - forests. the destruction OF
81 fls.aae II 9f058ce except hay was so
eel1-a-esS s2as y etslied' great loss OF
Lss $50. snS khas5s nssafu! the impoT-
sLatkaq u lsFse qasf2f1ssss u ofeaastuffs,
fax-sf, 2Q4 sss4.
s4.lR ,+cea-,1lt - ssais sisit4ai1, conoIf-
e. Ecz l-le 91,-2s.G4s@l fS4.e3a u Science
81 yes-E 2sq eiSes Interesting pa
kis,s.a5s. s-le 1l->e Ssse @sssase ssfee-
&b It lie 41a2s s>saT esRgs. sasre
y sees t4e -i92F 49, 4ssssfis ssslss9