328 Qucrm, Anaivera^ Remarks, S^-c. 
On DESrRr)YiN'G Ants. — Geiilk'iiicMi, oljsci\iij<j in [»aoes '27-i and 27'J, of joiic 
Keg'ister, two fuquiiios res|>ei;ti);g' llie best nujtiioU ol'destroyiiio- Ants. 1 beg lo 
itifurm ydiii' Coi rcspLtiulenis tbtU iiinoiigst tiiaiiy trials to destroy iheiii, I have met 
with none so efi'ecual as that of giving' every eneoiirag-emeut to the Couiiuoii Toail. 
I have for several years paid attention to these re|)tiies, and so lias every person 
under niy eutitrol, in-so-inuch, that I h;. ve sometimes had as niaoy as three or four 
dozen j some of which have bocume so domesticated that I have taken them in one 
hand and exhibited their food in the other, which they have taken with the great 
composure. So much store do my family, us well as myself, set by them, that uiy 
two little girls are in the habit of tjring'ing' them home in their hands, from the 
roads and fields, with tis much delight as fhcy would the choicest objects. Those 
I recommend, are about three ounces weight, and from the observations I have 
made of their progress, I should calculate about five years old. This size ap- 
pears more lively than the larger ont^s, ai.d 1 have often known them remain for 
several days together, at the mouth of the hole where the Ants congregated 5 and 
such is their agility, that they will tiike the Ants, when on the wing-, as quick as 
ihey come within reach •, and their instinct is so great, that if you erect a habita- 
tion for them contiguous to the resort of the Ants, they will remain, and consider it 
their dwellings and should they be taken and placed in another part of the garden 
or house, they will endeavour to return to their ohi station again. The quantity 
of insects they devour is immense, as ihey have a very quick digestion. 
I have preserved and protected theia, for more than twenty years. My reason 
for commencing it, originated from the circumstance of a friend of mine calling on 
inc, who on observing- the hot-beds so much infested, and concluding- the crops 
would be destroyed, advised mo to introduce Toads us a certain remedy, and to 
n>y g-reat surprise and satisfaction, I observed them the next day devouring the 
Ants as fast as I was able to count them. From that ti ne I have observed with 
s-dtisfaction, that wherever Toads are encouraged. Ants will disappear. I much 
reg-ret that these useful creatures should meet with the ill-treafi-aent they often do, 
even from gardeners. I have often been almost insulted for harbouring them my- 
self, and I have scarcely met with one individual that half appreciated their value. 
When trees are iafested with Ants, confine the Toads behind a board set on edge 
until they become habituated to the spot. 
J. Stafford. 
On DbsTiTOYing Ants. — Gentlemen, in your Reg-ister, No. 6, p. 278 — 9, are 
two queries, as to the destruction of Ants within doors, and without, I have known 
common frames for Cucumbers and Melons completely cleared .'ofr^iits whit h in- 
fested them, by merely confining- a Toad in them. The poor Toad is loathed and 
persecuted by many who should know better, for he is very serviceable in preying- 
on worms, grubs, and insects of various kinds. J. M. mig'ht easily avail himself 
of his services in the house for Cucumbers, but it would require some contrivance 
to enab'e him to get at the Ants in a wall, as described by W. W. I have no 
doubt that the Hedgehog- would be of great service confined in a walled garden, us 
he feeds on Grubs, Worms, Snails, Slugs, &c. 
Norfolk. _____ H- * 
TiGKioiA Pavonia. — Will you, or any of your Correspondents, do me the 
favour to inform me, of the best method of raising the Tigridid Pavonia, from 
seed, and of its general management, compost, &c. 
C. N. 
