OR, MANUAI< OF THK APIARY. 511 



tailed shrew — Blariua brevicauda, Gray — which was taken in 

 the hives by Mr. Little, of Illinois. 



SKUNKS. 



Skunks sometimes annoy bee-keepers. They disturb the 

 bees at nigfhtfall, and as the bees come out of the hive they 

 gulp them down. Of course, they can be poisoned or trapped. 

 But as insect-destroyers they do great good, and I doubt if we 

 can ever afford to kill the skunks. The small, striped skunk 

 in Southern California depredates on our poultry. Yet I would 

 use wire-netting and keep them out of the poultry-house, and 

 not kill them. 



