84 THE EOSB. 



the caterwauling midnight marauders that may 

 come within range. 



There are some insects which entomologists 

 claim to be useful, as destroying those which are 

 noxious ; such are the larvae of the garden 

 beetle, rose beetle, ladybird and others, which 

 feed upon aphides and caterpillars. I know 

 nothing of the truth of this from personal obser- 

 vation, and do not see how their aid can be con- 

 sidered of any great value, since the solutions, 

 etc. , which are necessary to apply when noxious 

 insects make their appearance, would be pretty 

 certain to destroy friend and foe alike. I have 

 much more confidence in the help to be obtained 

 from the despised toad, and some of the birds, 

 especially the ground-bird and sparrow ; the toad 

 will devour many of the worms and caterpillars, 

 the birds will destroy not only these, but also the 

 insects which infest the plants. The aid of the 

 birds might be enlisted by daily scattering a few 

 crumbs among the plants ; when they have con- 

 sumed the crumbs they will naturally turn their 

 attention to the insects at hand, and thus repay 

 their benefactors. 



