80 Caterpillars on Oak 



were rounded, slightly flattened and of a yellowish-brown colour. They 

 were about '75 mm. across and occurred singly or in twos or threes buried 

 in scales from the abdomen of the moth and in some cases with bunches 

 of scales sticking out like bristles. 



Although unfortunately not absolutely established 1 think there is 

 little doubt that a small caterpillar found eating the epidermis of the 

 leaf some days after the eggs were laid had hatched out from one of these 

 same eggs. 



Other eggs however failed to develop, so that this question of a 

 second brood remains somewhat doubtful as I was unfortunately obliged 

 to give up the investigation at this critical period. Most writers say 

 nothing of the existence of a second brood. Judeich and Nitsche in 

 their Lehrbiich Forstinsektenkunde (1895) believe there is but one genera- 

 tion, but mention other German investigators who believe that two exist, 

 and that the second hibernates as a pupa from which the moths appear 

 in April, the second brood of moths in the year appearing in June and 

 July. One of these investigators (Feussner. on T. viridana, Zeitschrift 

 fiir Forst ii. Jagdivesen, vi, 1874), found larvae and pupae, which he 

 believed to be T. viridana, in leaves spun together, the time being the 

 end of September. He was unsuccessful however in rearing the moth 

 from them. 



The importance of this question is obvious as it concerns not only 

 the second brood and hence the liability of the oaks to a second attack 

 but also the way in which the first brood makes its appearance in the 

 spring. 



Should it be found that the foliage undergoes a second attack, by 

 leaf-rolling caterpillars, and I believe it has been observed that the 

 attack does occur in two stages, then the problem of this second brood 

 should be easy of solution. A large sawfly larva was found to be 

 fairly common on the oak and under conditions favourable to its 

 increase might develop into a pest. 



Natural Checks. 



Large numbers of rooks and starlings were noticed in the tops of 

 the oaks of the plantation, doubtless feeding on the caterpillars. 



The wild birds in the park have been artificially fed during the winters 

 of 1910-11 and 1911-12. Last winter being an open one, much less 

 feeding was done and Mr Pullman, the park superintendent, suggests 

 that the tits and other small birds, being dependent on the natural supply 



