age, completely stripping- all .leaves from the bough. These are called 

 Tent-caterpillars, and are represented in all stages in the accompanying 

 figures. They are easily disposed of by going round the trees in the 

 early morning, or towards evening, and clearing out the webs with the 

 enclosed colony of worms. A simple plan is to tie a rag around the end 

 of a long rod, insert it into the nest, and by revolving the stick, wind up 

 the whole web with its inmates. This can be removed and trodden under 

 foot, and the operation repeated till there are none left. The location of 

 the webs can be learnt while carrying on the spraying for the Codling- 

 worms. During the warmer hours of the day the caterpillars are scat- 

 tered over the limb, feeding upon the foliage, and therefore it is neces- 

 sary to attack them when they are all at home in their tent. If they are 

 allowed to grow big, they distribute themselves over the tree, and can 

 only be destroyed by a liberal spray of Paris green or other poison. 



The second species, the Forest Tent-caterpillar (M. disstria), attacks 

 forest and shade trees of various kinds, and sometimes also invades the 

 orchard and garden. As the larvae do not live in a "tent," the method 

 mentioned above cannot be employed, but they have a habit of assembling 

 in masses on a carpet of silk on the trunk or limb of the tree they infest, 

 and can then be crushed with a spade or other convenient instrument. 

 Paris green may also be employed. 



The eggs of both species are laid in broad rings or bracelets on the 

 twigs of the trees they infest. With a little experience they can be seen 

 on apple and other trees during the winter when the leaves are off. If 

 removed and burnt at that time much further trouble will be saved. 



The caterpillars of the two species may be distinguished from each 

 other by the continuous white stripe down the middle of the back in the 

 case of the "American," and the series of spots in the same position on 

 the "Forest" variety. When fully grown the caterpillars wander away 

 from the trees and form their cocoons in any nearby shelter, such as a 

 fence, bits of board, chips or other rubbish. The cocoon is made of whit- 

 ish silk, within which is a sulphur-like powder producing a yellowish 

 color. 



The moths are thick-bodied fluffy creatures, of a dull reddish-brown 

 color; the fore-wings of the "American" species are crossed by two 

 oblique parallel whitish lines enclosing a pale space, while those of the 

 "Forest" have similar lines of a dark brown color and enclosing a dark 

 space. In other respects they are very much alike. They appear early 

 in July, and flying at night are attracted by lights and come into houses, 

 where they dash about, and sometimes cause much annoyance by getting 

 into the cream-jug or butter-dish, and covering the contents with their 

 fluffy scales. The eggs are laid at this time of year, and remain on the 

 trees till the following spring. Usually these insects are abundant for 

 only a few years at a time; there is then a period of freedom from them, 

 caused no doubt by the attacks of parasites and disease. 



