276 Coffee Planting. 



attacking the branches and severing the stems of 

 young plants. In some districts they are exceedingly 

 destructive. These creatures, as well as squirrels, 

 monkeys, wild cats, and other animals, also purloin 

 the ripe berries, during the crop season, in con- 

 siderable quantities. They should, therefore, be 

 destroyed when met with. The same remark 

 applies to 



Grasshoppers, which are also addicted to cutting 

 down young trees close to the ground, and to 

 sawing off the branches of older trees. What the 

 particular source may be of the gratification which 

 they derive from these operations, I have never 

 been able to discover. The fact, however, remains, 

 that they cause considerable loss and annoyance to 

 the planter in this way, and have therefore esta- 

 blished their claim to rank among the enemies of 

 the coffee-tree. 



