442 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of the family CarahidcB are eateu to a certain slight extent. For the latter 

 the hints given by Prof. Forbes's investigations, mentioned in considering the 

 cat-bird, are applicable. 



SIALIA SIALIS.— Biwe Urd. 



ECONOMIC RELATIONS. 



Here again we see the importance of a knowledge of the food habits of 

 dragon flies and spiders; if it is true that spiders are wholly beneficial, candor 

 compels the conclusion that the second bird did more harm in destroying the 

 33% of spiders than it did good in giving the couij de grace to the 60% of cut- 

 worms, for by destroying a cut-worm it but ends " an elemental life," while 

 in destroying a spider it gives life, liberty, and the pursuit of food to a great 

 many injurious insects which the latter would have destroyed had he not met 

 his untimely fate. But this is more than any one has a right to assume while 

 our profound ignorance of the food habits of the ground spiders continue to 

 exist. 



