200 " TUKNIPS. 



variable. In 1884 and 1885, respectively, they were at work 

 in February and March, and were excessively injurious later 

 in the year. In 1885 the main brunt of attack was reported 

 during August, and observations sent of severe infestation of 

 these Surface Caterpillars at localities in Somersetshire, 

 Surrey, Worcestershire, Oxon, Salop, Lincolnshire, Wilts, 

 Gloucestershire, and from Co, Cork, Ireland ; also before or 

 after from Kent, Essex, Berks, and Staffordshire, together 

 with notes of damage done to Swedes and White Turnips, 

 Cabbage plants (including seedlings just germinating, winter 

 Beans, Potatoes, Oats, &c.); and in the same year Mr. 

 W. W. Glenny, of Barking, an excellently qualified observer, 

 reported : — 



" In the autumn surface grubs were plentiful after the dry 

 summer, and greedily devoured food of a varied character. It 

 was difficult to escape these omnivorous insects, for no field 

 and no crop was free from their inroads. Amongst trans- 

 planted Leeks and Cabbage they did most harm, yet they 

 equally bit off, just near the top of the soil. Turnips, Spinach, 

 Onions, Beetroot, Carrots, Lettuce, &c. Instead of describing 

 which plant they prefer, it would be easier to say that there is 

 no vegetable or herb they refuse. 



" The late Potatoes were damaged by them, and a fair 

 piece of Magnum Bonums was attacked in such a manner 

 that, though it would have been convenient to have allowed 

 the crop to mature and ripen in the field, it was absolutely 

 necessary to dig the produce to prevent the grubs eating 

 them all." 



Taking the history of the Turnip Moth first : — The egg is 

 laid during the summer, as early as June or towards autumn, 

 and the caterpillars hatch in about a fortnight. These, when 

 full-grown, are about an inch or an inch and a half long, 

 nearly as thick as a goose-quill, and smooth, with a few hairs; 

 of a pale smoky colour, but sometimes pinkish, or purplish 

 brown, and with two dark lines along the back and one along 

 each side ; these lines, however, are not always distinct. The 

 head is horny, much narrower than the next ring, and is 

 stretched out on a plane with the body ; it is of a pale dingy 

 brown with black jaws ; ochreous eyes dotted with black, and 

 a cross-like mark on the face. The first ring brown, divided 

 by three pale lines ; on the other segments are four black 

 dots (placed obliquely, two on each side of the central line), 

 and three black dots at the base of the thighs. 



When first hatched, the caterpillars ajDpear to feed chiefly 

 above ground, choosing the part of the plant just at the sur- 

 face of the earth (between the root and stem), and, thus 

 gnawing off the tops, they destroy the croj) to a serious extent; 



