00 STATE rOMOLOGlCAL SOCIETY. 



These orp:ans are tevmiiiatcd with sharp pointed or conical tubercles, just fitted 

 to crush the hard crust whicli cnveloi)CS tlieir insect prey. As the cutting odge 

 of a lion's tooth betokens a meat diet, tlio grinding surface of a liorse's demands 

 a veo-etuhle regimen, just as surely does the pointed teeth of the moles tell of 

 insects as an exclusive food. 



Altliouixh the structural peculiarity as described above is quite enough to de- 

 cide tlie whole question, yet I will further give tlie weight of research to aid in 

 the decision. 



ANXIIIILATES GKUBS AXD CATERPILLARS. 



I have examined the stomachs of all the moles I have ever had in my posses- 

 sion, and always to llnd, not whole insects (their digestion is too active for that), 

 but the head-shields of numerous grubs and caterpillars. In such an examina- 

 tion about a year since I was exceedingly surprised at the number of such 

 helmets which confronted me. I felt sure that each was the scalp of a white 

 grub, and as I gazed at them I could but think in sorrowful mood of the friend 



1 had sacrificed, and ponder the sad tale of the "Ancient Mariner" and the 

 slain albatross. 



FEASTS RAVENOUSLY ON CUT AVORMS. 



What worse enemies have we than the cut worms, the white grubs, and the 

 ■wire worms? IIow can we estimate the worth of a friend who is never weary 

 in the good work of their extermination? The injury wo receive from these 

 fell destroyers is enormous. They work in darkness and concealment, and are 

 almost proof against artificial remedies. They are in great part protected from 

 bird and parasite, and were it not for mole and shrew, would soon turn our 

 world into a barren waste. 



A TRUE FRIEXD. 



You see the evil work of the mole, and have good reason to appreciate it. 

 His much greater benefits are all hidden, and thus you know not of them, and 

 how can you appreciate. To aid you to do this let me state that the mole can 

 live but a few hours without food, before it will starve, indicating the activity 

 of its nutrition, and the great amount of food required. 



TRIFLIXG TROUBLES. 



Now let us look at the evil deeds of the mole. They are all summed up in 

 the mounds and earthen windows of which he is the builder. Tlien, too, only 

 in a light soil. The mounds dull the scythe or knives of the mower, but iiave 

 we not good and abundant grind-tones, and is it not better to spei.d a little time 

 grinding knives than to have grinding poverty confronting us at all times be- 

 cause of the devastation of grub and caterpillar? 



The gardener is vexed at the disfiguring ridges, or an upturned row of cro- 

 cuses, or balsams. Yet the ridges arc easily raked down, and surely it is better 

 to miss a single row somewhat injured than to have all hopelessly cut oil by 

 cut worms. 



SPARE II I M AND I'RESERVE YOUR CROPS. 



The French Agricultural Bureau prohibits, by a heavy fine, the killing of the 

 allied hedgehog. It is easy to kill uur nu)les by poisoning them. Let us never 

 advise or practice this, lest we become scourged like the locust invaded plains 



