92 LEPIDOPTERA. 



not think the insects were to blame, because they were 

 only indulging in those habits which were necessary for 

 their existence. And he also considered that they were 

 sent as a punishment to the vineyard men, who had not 

 paid up all their tithes. Consequently, he ordered the 

 Bishop to open a court, where the farmers and the insects 

 were to appear by counsel. A long trial took place, 

 and a commission was ordered to inquire into the truth 

 of the allegations of the farmers; but of course, while 

 this was being done the caterpillars had metamorphosed, 

 and the mischief was completed. Many years afterwards 

 the moths and caterpillars re-appeared, and then the 

 farmers proposed to set apart a particular plot of ground 

 for the insects, which were to be under the charge of 

 the Church, and petitioned that if they did this the 

 Archbishop should curse the rest, and allow all those 

 out of bounds to be destroyed. The Archbishop, con- 

 sidering that the Church gained a nice piece of ground 

 by this transaction, willingly agreed to form a procession 

 round the country, and to do the required cursing ; 

 after which, however, the farmers were to do penance, 

 and to pay up all their tithes." 



In our own country there is, perhaps, only one highly 

 destructive species, viz., the Green Tortrix {T. viridana) 

 whose larvse in countless multitudes bare oak trees of 

 their leaves in the early summer months. The larva 

 and perfect insect are green. 



The Tineina is a very extensive group, the British 

 species being computed by Mr. Stainton, one of our 

 highest authorities on the Lepidoptera, at about 650 in 

 number, thus outnumbering any two of the preceding 

 groups. The moths are small and fragile, the most 



