32 CABBAGE. 



During the wiuter months they may be found near the 

 surface of the ground, and in spring they come out again and 

 feed. 



When full-grown the caterpillars are one inch and three- 

 quarters long, and about as thick as a swan's quill. The 

 head is ochreous, with two black stripes ; the general colour 

 is very variable, from a sickly green to a dull brown, varie- 

 gated with rosy brown, and freckled with a brown band down 

 the back, marked with a pale line along the middle, and a 

 short line of black spots or streaks along each side ; the 

 caterpillar is pale green beneath. These caterpillars are 

 very fat, not at all shining, and on being disturbed coil them- 

 selves into a ring. When full-fed, which may be from March 

 to June, they bury themselves and form earth-cases or 

 hollows in the ground, in which they turn to reddish chry- 

 salids, from which the moths come out in June or July. 

 They are variable in marking, but may be known by their 

 pale or rich umber-brown fore wings generally mottled or 

 spotted, as figured at 3, and by their hind wings being 

 orange-yellow, with a somewhat narrow waved black band, 

 but without any central mark. By one or other of the three 

 points — their large size, the comparatively narrow l)lack 

 band on the hind wings, or the absence of the dull mark on 

 the hind wings — this moth may be distinguished from other 

 species of Yellow Underwings. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — The moth shelters itself 

 amongst dry leaves and herbage, and in seasons when it is 

 numerous many might be got rid of at a small expense by 

 setting children to catch them with a bag-net, or merely with 

 the hand. It rises before the passer-by from grass in hay- 

 fields that have been lately cut, or in rough neglected spots ; 

 and its flight being sluggish, and itself large and very con- 

 spicuous from its " yellow under wings," it is easily taken. 



In 1884, Mr. W. W. Glenny, of Barking, Essex, sent me 

 specimens of this kind of Yellow Underwing Moth caterpillar, 

 together with some of the common Turnip Moth and the 

 following observation :— 



" Surface-caterpillars have been exceedingly destructive, 

 especially amongst the Cabbage seed-beds. . . . The most 

 effectual way of checking them is to hunt for these cater- 

 pillars just below the surface periodically, say twice a week. 

 By these means the attack may be lessened, and a crop saved. 



*' This year having been dry, the caterpillars have given 

 much trouble amongst transplanted Leeks, and one field 

 of about four acres was searched more than once ; the result 

 •was satisfactory, large numbers were destroyed, and the crop 



