94 



ON THE INSECTIVOROUS HABITS OF SQUIRRELS. 



In writing of the natural enemies of Catocala mcestosa, the larvse of 

 which were observed to be injuring the foliage of pecan at Biloxi, 

 Miss., Mr. James Brodie makes statement under date of June 19 that 

 squirrels destroy these insects. June 28, he says his attention was 

 called hy his little girl to squirrels eating these caterpillars. At first 

 he doubted, but watched and saw that it was as the child reported. 

 One of the squirrels was partially tame and took nuts from his hand. 

 A caterpillar was handed to this squirrel and it was eaten. In devour- 

 ing a caterpillar the squirrel would take it in its paws, pull off the 

 head and throw it awa} T , while the viscera were expelled or drawn out 

 and rejected, only the skin being eaten. Mr. Brodie also stated that 

 the squirrels were fond of fungi. The squirrels observed eating 

 insects were the common gray squirrel and the firing squirrel. One 

 was observed devouring a large longicorn beetle, which was placed 

 near it for the purpose. 



INSECT INJURY TO BINDING TWINE. 



We have received several complaints of injury by crickets and 

 grasshoppers to binding or binder twine, which we are informed is 

 used for stacking small grain in the field, a remedy or preventive being 

 desired. During May, 1901, Mr. I. D. Sheaffer, Russell, Kans., and 

 Miss Annette Bowman, Moscow, Idaho, wrote in regard to such 

 injur} 7 . These are only two of several complaints. In no cases have 

 we received specimens of the insects, nor have we been able to suggest 

 an} 7 substance that would kill the insects or deter them from attack- 

 ing the twine that would not at the same time be dangerous to those 

 handling it. Poisons, of course, could not be used, and sticky sub- 

 stances would also be objectionable, although, of course, the} 7 would 

 prevent injury by the insects. 



TO RID CATS OF FLEAS. 



The following from a New York paper adds something new to our 

 knowledge of the means of ridding domestic animals of tieas. This 

 method would probably be equally effective in ridding small dogs and 

 puppies of lieas. 



An excellent way to get rid of fleas is used by a lady in Chicago, who owns some of 

 the best cats in America. She has ready a square of cotton batting and a square 

 of cotton cloth, placing the cat in the center of the batting, which has been laid over 

 the cloth; she rubs strong spirits of camphor quickly into the fur and then gathers 

 the corners of the batting and cloth tight around the neck of the animal. She has a 

 fine comb ready and a dish of hot water, for the pests, who detest the camphor, will 

 run to the head of the cat, and must be combed out and plunged into the scalding 

 water. Hundreds of them, however, will jump from the cat and lodge in the cotton 

 batting, where their scaly feet stick in the cotton so that they can not get away. 



