OF THE OAKS. 167 



Ho argentatus, appeared in unusual numbers in 

 this neighbourhood; and, by its extensive ravages, 

 greatly disfigured many of our most ornamental 

 trees and shrubs ; the copper-beech in particular, 

 in some situations, suffered severely. Towards 

 the termination of the month, this indiscriminate 

 feeder attacked the young leaves of the oak, 

 which were then expanding, and the effects of 

 its depredations soon became very conspicuous in 

 the gnawed and withered foliage. 



To this pest quickly succeeded another, the 

 larva of a small moth, Tortrix viridana, which 

 completed the devastation commenced by the 

 green weevil; and the monarch of the grove, 

 nearly destitute of verdure, and loathsome with 

 numerous caterpillars, stood almost leafless, wear- 

 ing a wintry aspect, even in the middle of June. 

 These caterpillars, in common with many others 

 provided with an apparatus for spinning, on 

 being disturbed, hastily quit their retreats among 

 the convoluted leaves, and descend towards the 

 earth by a fine line, formed of a viscous secretion, 

 which hardens on exposure to the atmosphere. 

 So extremely abundant were they at the period 

 alluded to, that, during a brisk wind, thousands 

 might be seen thus suspended ; some carried out 

 by the breeze far beyond the widest spreading 

 branches of the tree to which their threads were 



