INSECTS AND THE1E REMEDIES 115 



times, they become very destructive. Exclusive of cut- 

 worms, no insect here was more destructive to young 

 cabbage plants in the fall of 1881. In March and April 

 they gnaw into the "curds " of cauliflower, making un- 

 sightly blemishes. 



They emit their shrill sound by rubbing their wing 

 covers against each other. This insect, on very young 

 plants, may be poisoned by an application of Paris green, 

 but when it becomes dangerous to use the poison in this 

 manner, it may be mixed with grated carrot. 



Crickets have the habit of hiding under 'objects on the 

 ground, and may be found under boards, palmetto leaves, 

 etc., placed along the rows of cabbages and other crops, 

 for the purpose of attracting them, but it requires quick- 

 ness to kill them, with a flat bat, as they become very 

 lively as soon as light is admitted to their retreat. 



THE MOLE-CRICKET (Gryllotalpa.) 



Owing to its exclusively nocturnal habit, this insect is 

 rarely seen, although it is sometimes destructive to seed- 

 ling plants, eating oif the seed leaves, for instance, of 

 melons and cucumbers. There are two species in this 

 country. Gryllotalpa borealis is found in moist ground 

 in the New England and other Northern States, but is 

 much less common than G. brevipennis in the Middle 

 and Southern States. A still different species, G. vul- 

 garis, is found in Europe, where it is more abundant 

 than either of ours are with us. It is often quite trou- 

 blesome. I have seen it successfully captured by sinking 

 empty tumblers, flower-pots (closed at the bottom), etc., 

 level with the surface of the soil. It may also be pois- 

 oned in the same manner as the cricket. 



BIRDS AS INSECT DESTROYERS. 



As related to the question of the utility of insectivor- 

 ous birds and their food supply, I cite the examinations 



