CHAPTER 11. 



OF .ijYJMALS THdT ATTACK THE VL'VE. 

 1. Quadrupeds. 



Wild hogs, foxes and" weasels are excessively fond of the ripe 

 grapes. As these animals willingly return where they find a plentiful 

 supply of enticing food, they are lulled at night with guns or snares. 

 Most other quadrupeds will eat the vine-shoots, leaves and fruit ; but 

 it is the domestic dog that makes the most incalculable ravages in 

 the vine-yard- In several villages, and particularly at Espira de la 

 Gli, near Perpignan, (Pyrenees Orientales,) several planters' names 

 have been given me, who have been obliged to throw up this cultiva- 

 tion, on account of the depredations of the dogs, that carried away 

 nearly the whole of their crops. 



Vines in enclosures are not attacked by the dogs ; they only prey 

 upon the crops of vineyards that are open and unfenced. To attempt 

 to poison either dogs or foxes by nux-voraica, as some planters do, is 

 highly injudicious : - cattle or children are as likely to fall victims as 

 those for whom the bait is laid. The right way is to diminish the 

 number of useless dogs, to oblige owners to tie up those they keep, 

 and__to use guns to get ridded of the rest. 



3. Of Birds. 



There are many sorts of birds that are passionately fond of the 

 grape, and several of those are rendered quite luscious eating by the 

 delicate fare afforded them in the vintage season. They should be 

 caught with nets. The orioles and the finches are insatiable ; where 

 the vintage is late, the thrushes cause great ravages. The starlings, 

 the blackbirds and several other birds of passage come down on the 

 vineyards in flocks; and, if let alone, will sometimes clear the whole 

 crop. And the same with the wild sparrows. However, their pillage 



