The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-18

Lord had sent these birds TO his chosen
people," Clouds of grasshoppers had des-
troyed the crops - many Western Terri
tories. The insects attacked Utah by the
million millions. Then II was that the
gulls appeared-birds never before seen
in that locality within the memory o.
man. The gulls C anne In tremendous
hocks and devoured without stopping the
hosts of the enemy and completely saved
the crops from destruction. Now the
birds follow the plains like chickens. and
there has been found no mormon mean
to raise his hand against them.
What the gull is to the Salt Lake re-
gion so Is the toad TO one section OF a
comparatively small area otscountry un-
der cultivation. but the green things Of
that small area were Threatened with
destruction by a hoard OF Rocky Noun
tain locusts. Then there appeared TO the
astonished gaze OF the resident Texans
an army OF toads. before which in num-
bers the great army OF Xerxes was but
score. These dismal looking. warty back
ed, hop O. my thumbs came along as on
business bent They said nothing and ate
grashoppers. They cleaned up utterly one
entire flight OF the creatures and then
quietly sat under cabbage leaves and beet
tops to wait more. The Rpre didn't come.
The toads had saved the crpps. and II one
wishes provocatIon for a quarrel with
long lanky Texan OF that section just
let him malgin a toad.
Should any one be inclined to doubt the
insect-eating capabilities OF a common
everyday American toad let him listen
TO the evidence OF an exDerimenter. who
Is at once a scientists and a clergyman.
the one establishing his accuracy. and the
other his varacity. This theolOgue-natur-
zlist found a toad In his garden and pro
ceeded to make pet Of It. He went TO
make a call on master toad one morn
ing about 10 o'clock. and without knowing
how many insects had fallen before ~
toad's dartng tongue proceeded 10 feed
him on plant pests. The toad ate readily
and greedny twenty-three large squash
bugs which were preferred him and then
looked Up inquiringiy for more The
squash bug larIer was depleted. 80 the
clergyman turned his attention 10 cat
erpIllars. or these hairy. reDuisiye erea-
lures the toad ate nihety-four and then
he shut down to hop heavily OF 20 .
shady corner to take that res: tEhich aids
animal digestion. Now this same expert
menter tells tails Of toads which might
possibly appear overdrawn were not the
gsntleman's cloth what IL Il. lie took in
his experiments with one toad some large
"tangle-legged" grashOppers. Master toad
took kindly 10 this kind Of food. but oS-
Ing to the nature Of the Insects legs and
their extreme iengtht he foand difheuify
In swallowing. In order 30 aid n the pro-
cess as soon as he could get firm grip
on the rgzshOpper be would look for
stick or a stone. b. means o. pushing I
against which he could f0rcs bis prey !
down his throat Now In order 10 see
what the batrachlan would d. u no stone 4
or stick we're a. hand AL o. those ARD I
cIes were removed from MS Vicinity an 4
then he vas fed another big ErasbopDss 4
with great knottsd legs. FINDING be 4
could not swallow 1.-THE quarry the tosd 1
looked scout as usual for . stone s19 ,
andlng none. he attempted 70 use the
ground as q pusbsr. He Vas SsabIs 70
get the right angie 20 secure suf3e1sai
forcA. and % a. . last ana perfectly e.
fective means ne stood On his bad A7s
withorf the least eifcslfy fsrcs3 pa
food down his hiroat
This tOaA was \ vosseT. one oar Ne
Glanced rpon \ ehoics anEss sssn q 81
srsns length. Re tosE bod % 05s sas
ana succeeded IN swAIisEinE shout sn
Iaeh and . half q r5e woFn. Ths1h insa
reaIizsng So danger A2par~r:iy - ne
arus tine, wond the rest q iss eosy ssa~
IKE about TIE mex % he foaA TBS
gave ths VOTE leverage eD7HEh 20 s=asas
Il 70 tag a~ay ~ that para ~sies ne
toad had already s~als0Tsd Sssfssnis
was that .hOrxh b 4 EixAfy szort ne
toad oouia sEaGsSS aSgss hsf a. ineA.
ne w1rz. Whes ihs rslaHasaoa cane.
sueeec9sd IN s5shaFauiax fsfF<-saarters
q "a inok Ia tad sac Ads efsasfsss
sllpslag sSay frsn haz ~ - inaaits