13 



HAI.P HOURS WITH EN'SECTS. [PAc::Ar.D. 



Fig. 7, adult), apliis-lions, tiger beetles, water tigers (Fig. 

 8) and dragon-flies, names borrowed from their fierce four- 

 footed namesakes, are significant of the fierce passions and 

 insatiable appetites of their six-footed copyists. 



We were one autumn reminded of the great value of having 



Fir,. 7. 



Ant-lion, ailult. 



a brood of martins or swallows about the farm and garden, 

 when a storm prostrated a martin box, and one of its com- 

 j,jQ_ g^ partments was found literally packed 



with the dried remains of the little 

 yellow and black squash beetle. The 

 great and efficient aid of birds is too 

 apparent to be passed over lightly. 

 We quote again from the Report of 

 the French Commissioners upon this 

 subject. "The commission excludes 

 birds of prey, such as magpies, ravens, 

 etc., with the exception of buzzards 

 and rooks, from the benefit of its pro- 

 tection, because the buzzard consumes 

 about six thousand mice yearly. The 

 "Water Tiger. rooks eat an incalculable amount of 



white worms. Sparrows, once thought harmful as eating 

 grain, are restored and their usefulness shown by reference 



18 



