ANTLER MOTH ; CORN ArillS. 61 



All these points coincide with what has been reported of 

 similar attacks elsewhere, as, for instance, one which occurred 

 at Clitheroe, in Lancashire in 1881 (in which, as far as could 

 be judged from caterpillars only, the nearly allied species of 

 moth of very similar habits, the Heliophohus graminis, was 

 also present) ; likewise a great appearance on Skiddaw, in 

 Cumberland, in 1827, and on the Hartz Mountains of Ger- 

 many, in 1816 and 1817, but, as I am not aware of 

 the geographical area of an attack ever having been so 

 minutely recorded, and it is rare in our country to have 

 instances of devastation on such a widespread scale, it has 

 appeared desirable to note the occurrence at length, with the 

 map accompanying. 



The only available remedy for attack on this vast scale 

 appears to be the one made use of, namely, firing the surface, 

 and thus getting rid of great numbers of the caterpillars 

 amongst the burning grass and heath, and other mountain 

 plants which would help to feed the fire. 



The habit of the caterpillars of going right onwards, 

 whether into streams, standing water, or otherwise, together 

 with then' activity in crawling in bodies away from the fired 

 ground, might very possibly be utilised to direct the course of 

 some of the hordes into a stream or other convenient end. 



On a moderate scale of attack it has been found to answer 

 to turn pigs on the infested land, or plough the surface to 

 turn the grass roots up with the caterpillars amongst them 

 for the pigs to clear. 



Corn Aphis, Dolphin, or Plant-louse, 



AjyJiis [Svplwnophora) granaria, Kirby ; Aphis avena, Fab. ? 



This Aphis is to be found on Wheat, Barley, Oats, and Rye, 

 and is sometimes very hurtful. 



Early in the summer the Aphides may be found sucking 

 sap from the leaves or stems of the young plants, but later on 

 they attack the ears, inserting their suckers close to where 

 the grains spring from the central stalk of the head. 

 Sometimes as many Aphides are found as there are grains in 

 the ear, sometimes the ear is choked with them, more than 

 two hundred having been counted at once. 



The injury is caused by the Plant-louse drawing away the 

 sap with its beak or sucker, and thus not only exhausting the 

 strength of the plant, but also causing much injury to the 

 tissues by means of the many minute punctures. 



When the ear begins to harden, so that the Aphis cannot 

 drive its sucker in, then the grain is safe from further injury. 



