S3 



A word for the mole. In digging potatoes this year, I observed the runs of a mole 

 in all directions through the ground. It was a piece of old sod, and very much infested 

 with white worms, the larvse of the Cockchafer (Lachnosterna fusca) Many of the pota- 

 toes had been partly eaten by these worms, but I observed that wherever a mole-run 

 traversed a hill of potatoes no white worm could be found, even though the half-eaten 

 potatoes were proof of his former presence. The inference is fair that the mole had found 

 him first and eaten him, and very likely the mole's object in so thickly tunnelling this 

 piece of ground was to find these grubs. 



Now, it would be very easy to trump up a charge against the mole on the evidence of 

 these facts. There was the "run" which nothing but a mole could make, and there were 

 the gnawed potatoes ; put the two together and kill the mole. Many a man has been pun- 

 ished on less conclusive circumstantial evidence. But it is perfectly easy to distinguish 

 the work of a mole from that of a white worm, if one will only take the pains. I have 

 many times found the latter coiled up in the potato he was eating, but I have never seen 

 the mark of teeth such as the mole possesses on a potato. Nor do I believe the mole ever 

 meddles with potatoes or corn. 



Abundance of Certain Insects. — The Southern Cabbage Butterfly (P. protodice) is 

 exceedingly abundant here this summer. I have been able to count scores on the wing at 

 one time. 



The Potato Worm, or larva of S. o-maciilata, is troublesome on the late potatoes this 

 month (September), and soon strips a plant of its leaves. However, he is easily dealt with, 

 as he is at once betrayed by the casting on the ground, and a little " poison dust," such as I 

 use for the beetle, soon makes an end of him. I have tried " Buhach" on this insect, but find 

 the former much easier of application and more effective. The latter diluted with ten 

 parts of flour had little efiect on the worms, but when used neat it stopped their feeding 

 and killed two of them in a couple of days. But there is the trouble of looking up the 

 creature (green on a green ground) in order to put the powder " where it will do the most 

 good," whereas one need only shake the powder-tin over the plant and pass on, leaving 

 the worm to poison itself. 



The same is true of the Cabbage Butterfly (P. rapce) in tJie early stages of growth 

 of the cabbage. I have used Buhach, and a friend of mine is now using it on a plot of 

 3,000 heads of cabbage, but the time spent in finding the green worm on the green leaf 

 is a serious drawback, and while the plant is very young I prefer using the "poison 

 dust." I can sprinkle a whole bed while I am finding the worm on a dozen cabbage- 

 heads in order " to put salt on his tail." The " poison dust" to which I refer is made by 

 mixing one part of London Purple and sixty parts of ashes, and passing the mixture 

 several times through a fine sieve. I may add, that I find this a very efficient remedy 

 for the turnip fly. 



BOOK NOTICES. 

 The Canadian Sportsman and Naturalist, Vol. I., Nos. 1 to 8. 



This is a monthly journal published in Montreal, and edited by William Couper, a 

 well-known naturalist and sportsman. Each number contains eight pages of matter 

 arranged in double columns, printed in first-class style and on good paper. The articles 

 are short and interesting, treating mainly of matters pertaining to hunting and fishing, 

 with brief descriptions of Canadian wild animals, birds, etc. 



The editor's extensive experience and travels in the Lower St. Lawrence is manifest 

 in his articles on the rivers of that district and their products. Entomology also comes 

 in for a share of attention. The fifth number contains a valuable contribution from Dr. 

 J. H. Garnier, of Lucknow, Ont., on the Reptiles of Canada, a subject to which but little 

 attention has yet been given in this country, but one in which there is a large and 

 promising field for the enterprising investigator. To all lovers of sport, either with the 

 rod or gun, this journal will commend itself. It should also be of value to all who are 

 fond of natural history in general. We hope to see it liberally supported. The subscrip- 

 tion price is one dollar per annum. 



3 



