CHAP- XXIII.] SOME OTHER ANIMALS. 



and are nocturnal, preying on insects and small vertebrates and 

 themselves eaten bj many birds, notably crows, when 



■! out ot their retreat^. They are probably of little economic 

 importance, but the large Scolopendras frequently invade bunga- 

 lows, and are to be avoided, because they can inflict a highly- 

 mous wound with their fangs. 

 I )\ the smaller animaN the only others which can be mem 

 are the Eelworms which frequentlj attack plants and may do 

 considerable damage in nurseries of young tea plants. Their 

 presence is general 1) recognizable bj the characteristic nodules 

 ed on the roots, the worms themselves being microscopii 

 rely visible to the naked eye. As a rule they occur in damp 

 or water-logged soil and drainage is indicated as a step towards 

 control, although a patch of ground, once infected, remains so for a 

 long period, and the only thing to do is to discontinue grov. 



a time any crop susceptible to the attack of eelworms. 

 Watering with a weak solution of Formalin has been recom- 

 mended and Crude Oil Emulsion is also useful sometimes, but 

 .is a rule any disinfectant of this nature is useless at a strength 

 insufficient to harm the plants. 



Finally, we can only find room lor a briel reference to Slugs 

 md Snails which frequently attack young vegetable crops. 

 ill) in the Hills. In Ceylon a s|u^ has been noted to do 

 considerable damage to tapped rubber trees by feeding on the 

 exuding latex. They are best checked by taking a bucketful of 

 sawdust and moistening it with a mixture of one or two large cups 

 of phenyle (crude carbolic acid) and ten to twenty cups of water; 

 ■.lust is then Spread around the rows or plants to be pro- 

 tected or around single plants, or sprinkled over the surface of the 

 soil if the area is a large one. During wet weather a stronger solu- 

 tion may be employed with safet) to the plants as the phenyle is 

 washed out of the sawdust Ringing the earth around the 

 stems with Lime is also successful sometimes, and doubtless the 

 1 ahuim Carbide from Acetylene uas generators could be 

 employed with good results as a deterrent against these animals. 

 Slugs and snails may also be trapped by lacing out pieces of board. 

 bark. etc.. over fresh baits of succulent leaves, such as cabbage or 

 lettuce: any captures may simph be squashed or dropped into a 

 buck el ot salt ami water. 



