26 APPLE. 



similarly marked, and the hinder margins of both wings 

 scalloped or indented at the edge. When at rest, the fore 

 edge of the hind wings, which is somewhat dilated, projects 

 so as to be very noticeable beyond, and from under the fore 

 edge of the fore wing, thus giving an appearance much like a 

 dead brown leaf to the moth, which probably often secures it 

 from observation, and from which it takes its specific name 

 of qucrcifolia, or oak-leaf. 



The early history of the caterpillars is recorded as being 

 hatched in September, and moulting once, and spending the 

 winter extended on a twig of their food-plant, and in the 

 following season completing their growth ; and in the ob- 

 servations sent me from near Hereford it was mentioned: 

 " Our fruit foreman thinks that the grubs are hatched in the 

 autumn, for young caterpillars are found on the bark very 

 early in the spring." 



The first notes which were sent of the infestation (on the 

 8th of May) were accompanied by a fine nearly full-grown 

 specimen of the caterpillar more than four inches long; and 

 on the 10th of May in tbe following year (1894) a consignment 

 of more than a dozen of the grubs was sent me from the same 

 locality, ranging from an inch and a quarter to two inches 

 and a quarter in length, but mostly of the larger size, and of 

 a greyish ground colour. Two or three were of a smaller 

 size, and these were of a rich brown ground colour. 



My correspondents informed me that they had not dis- 

 covered the attack on their trees until the spring of 1893, nor 

 was it found in any considerable quantity ; but where it was 

 found, every leaf was devoured. A few specimen branches 

 were sent to me to show the extent of the damage, and these 

 I found, as described, absolutely cleared of leaves, excepting 

 that in a few instances some small remains of young leafage 

 in very miserable condition were still existing, these being 

 almost entirely at the ends of the twigs. For the most part 

 all had been thoroughly cleared down (as shown in the figure, 

 p. 24) to a mere stump of even the leaf-stalk. The Apple- 

 shoots forwarded were from about twelve to seventeen inches 

 long, and of various ages up to young boughs of from three- 

 eighths to half an inch diameter. 



In this country the attack has been recorded as occurring 

 on Willow, also Sloe or Blackthorn, and sometimes as being 

 found on Pear, and also on "Whitethorn. On the Continent 

 it is known to be often injurious to young Plum trees, and 

 also Apple, Pear, and Peach trees ; but (as before mentioned) 

 more from the great size than from the numbers of the 

 caterpillars. 



Under the circumstances, the surest method of getting rid 



