Canadian Forestry Journal, June, 1917 1153 



But lovers of woodland friends and life know that the toad is a gentle, 

 harmless friend; working night and day to destroy slugs, caterpillars, ear- 

 wigs, flies and the thousand and one pestiferous insects that gather about our 

 fruit, vegetables and flowers. 



Take him into your house, and he will clear out flies, cockroaches, crickets 

 and other small and unwelcome guests in the enemy line. How does he catch 

 them? He "plays sleep" and when an insect comes near that wiiich it con- 

 siders a lump of earth, or a stone. Toady, who has been "peeking" through his 

 nearly closed eyes, darts his long, thin, sticky tongue forward and quick as 

 lightning, drops Insect down his wide, dark dungeon of a throat. The toad's 

 tongue is like a spring; it is fastened to the front of his mouth, and folds back; 

 and acts as quickly and surprisingly as a "Gee whiz" mouse trap. 



''Lady bug"" invited by a Government 



To be carefully guarded also is the little "Lady-bird" of "Lady-bug" — 

 bright red, or yellowy brown, black spotted. You all know her, for you have 

 all, in days passed, sent her home to her children in their burning home. 



This tiny friend was introduced into British Columbia at Government 

 expense; for she had not been placed here by Nature. She devours the, 

 aphides; or green plant lice, found on the under side of plant foliage; or leaves 



Do not permit her to be injured; but place her on some green plant in 

 your garden, or by the wayside. Her value is far beyond her "weight in 

 gold," many times over. 



Other insect friends, disloyal to the traditions of their species perhaps, 

 are the bee, the wasp, and the humble-bee. 



. The production of honey by the bee is only one of its benefits to man. 

 The gathering of pollen and carrying it from blossom to blossom and tree 

 to tree, serves to fertilize the blossoms of fruit and vegetables; and thus in- 

 sures to us a good crop. This is a far more productive work than the manu- 

 facture of honey. 



Wasps not only fertilize plants, but they also destroy spiders and flies. 

 In each tiny cell of a wasp's nest, lies an egg of the mother wasp; and with it 

 is sealed the body of a fly, preserved and torpid; stupified by the sting of the 

 wasp, and left with the egg, to provide food for the young wasp until it is 

 sufficiently developed to go forth and seek food for itself. The "mud-dabber," 

 so named by the boys, makes the same provision with this exception, that 

 she prefers spiders; nice large spiders, for the nourishment of her young. 



So, in addition to the fertilization of plants, which is not done by them to 

 the same extent as by the bee, the wasp aids in the destruction of health 

 destroying insects. 



The busy humble-bee, with his legs laden with yellow pollen, fertilizes 

 shrubs, grasses, flowers, etc. His work lies more in the wildlands than in the 

 garden, though he works there also. 



Probably the one friend least known, most abhorred, despised, most 

 eagerly put to death, is the skunk. His only offence is his defence; and it is 

 quite sufficient. I know that he is blameless of much of which he is accused. 

 I know, for I have personally cultivated his acquaintance, and have had as 

 daily companions nine busy little skunks. - 



A Good Word for the Homely Skunk 



I could write a long chapter on skunks alone; but time only permits me 

 to assure you that my close acquamtance with these little animals has taught 

 me that chickens and eggs are as safe in their presence as with the canary in 

 the cage. But beetles, moths, grubs — any and all insects were pure sport 

 as well as food. In the garden, hills of squash or cucumber seed or corn were 

 very seriously studied; and many were passed as perfect by these little hunt- 

 ers, or foraging parties. Others were eagerly and hastily dug open with the 

 handlike fore-paws, and — were the seed eaten? Never! But always these 



