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ON THE INSECTIVOROUS HABITS OF SQUIRRELS. 
In writing of the natural enemies of Catocala mustosa, the larvee of 
which were observed to be injuring the foliage of pecan at Biloxi, 
Miss., Mr. James Brodie makes statement under date of June 19 that 
squirrels destroy these insects. June 28, he says his attention was 
called by his little girl to squirrels eating these caterpillars. At first 
he doubted, but watched and saw that it was as the child reported. 
One of the squirrels was partially tame and took nuts from his hand. 
A caterpillar was handed to this squirrel and it was eaten. In devour- 
ing a caterpflar the squirrel would take it in its paws, pull off the 
head and throw it away, while the viscera were expelled or drawn out 
and rejected, only the skin being eaten. Mr. Brodie also stated that 
the squirrels were fond of fungi. The squirrels observed eating 
insects were the common gray squirrel and the flying squirrel. One 
was observed devouring a large longicorn beetle, which was placed 
near it for the purpose. 
INSECT INJURY TO BINDING TWINE. 
We have received several complaints of injury by crickets and 
grasshoppers to binding or binder twine, which we are informed is 
used for stacking small grain in the field, a remedy or preventive being 
desired. During May, 1901, Mr. I. D. Sheaffer, Russell, Kans., and 
Miss Annette Bowman, Moscow, Idaho, wrote in regard to such 
injury. These are only two of several complaints. In no cases have 
we received specimens of the insects, nor have we been able to suggest 
any substance that would kill the insects or deter them from attack- 
ing the twine that would not at the same time be dangerous to those 
handling it. Poisons, of course, could not be used, and sticky sub- 
stances would also be objectionable, although, of course, they would 
prevent injury by the insects. 
TO RID CATS OF FLEAS. 
The following from a New York paper adds something new to our 
knowledge of the means of ridding domestic animals of fleas. This 
method would probably be equally effective in ridding small dogs and 
puppies of fleas. 
An excellent way to get rid of fleas is used by a lady in Chicago, who owns some of 
the best cats in America. She has ready a square of cotton batting and a square 
of cotton cloth, placing the cat in the center of the batting, which has been laid over 
the cloth; she rubs strong spirits of camphor quickly into the fur and then gathers 
the corners of the batting and cloth tight around the neck of the animal. She has a 
ine comb ready and a dish of hot water, for the pests, who detest the camphor, will 
n to the head of the cat, and must be combed out and plunged into the scalding 
water. Hundreds of them, however, will jump from the cat and lodge in the cotton 
batting, where their scaly feet stick in the cotton so that they can not get away. 
