DISEASES AND INSECTS. . 387 



acre ; but the operation will have to be repeated 

 several times. When collected in this way, they 

 must be killed by crushing or pouring boiling 

 hot water on them, for they have as many 

 lives as a cat. We have kept them in a barrel 

 of water for haff a day, and had most of them 

 come out alive. They are too stupid to know 

 when they are dead. Birds will not eat them, 

 for their hooked claws cause them to stick in 

 the throat. We remember once seeing a cat- 

 bird have one in its bill ; it seemed to be deliber- 

 ating whether it should run the risk of swallow- 

 ing it, but we finally got tired of waiting the 

 result, and left. It has been said that poultry 

 are very fond of them, but any body can con- 

 vince himself that this is not so. The only effect- 

 ual remedy is the basin of water and a stout 

 foot. We have tried many others, but found 

 them all wanting. 



May Beetle or Cockcliafer. There are several 

 of this family that are hurtful to the vine, but 

 the most numerous and destructive is the com- 

 mon May Beetle, (Phyllophaga quercina of 

 Harris,) of a dark brown color, and about three 

 quarters of an inch long. At night the air is full 

 of them, and a light will entice large numbers 

 into the house. They destroy the fruit and 



