i 7 8 



ANIMALS THAT DESTROY INSECTS 



air, and catch many small insects on the wing. When 

 they alight, they still keep their wings outspread. They 

 lay their eggs on the stems of water 

 plants or on the water. 



Damsel Flies are much like the 

 dragon flies, but are smaller and fold 

 their wings over the back when they 

 are at rest. 



Toads These homely looking an- 

 imals are very useful in ridding us 

 of harmful insects. If we knew all 

 the good that they do by feeding on 

 insects, we should not think them so 

 ugly, and we certainly should never 

 stone them or kill them. Insects de- 

 stroy every year over $300,000,000 

 worth of our crops. A large part of 

 this might be saved if we should pro- 

 tect the toads and increase their num- 

 ber. There is a popular idea that 

 toads will make warts if they are handled. This is an 

 error. The toad is perfectly harmless. 



Bring a pair of toads into the house, and watch the 

 good work that they do. A room may be cleared of 

 cockroaches by leaving a toad in it over night. 



Get acquainted with the habits of the toads. You will 

 find their study very interesting. Have you seen the large 

 masses of bead-like eggs that the female toad lays ? 

 Have you seen the tadpoles that have been hatched from 

 the eggs? Have you watched their growth from tad- 

 poles to toads ? 



FIG. 104. A damsel fly. 



