322 



PEAR. 



death. If the wire, when withdrawn, is found to have wet 

 whitish matter on it, such as would result from having crushed 

 the larva, or again, if gnawed wood should have been passed 

 out of the burrow up to the time of the operation and no 

 more appear afterwards, it may be supposed the creature is 

 killed ; otherwise the operation should be repeated. 



Syringing is also of service in getting rid of these cater- 

 pillars. For this purpose a gutta-percha tube with a sharp- 

 pointed nozzle may be fitted to the syringe, and thus, by 

 placing the point of the nozzle well into the hole, it may be 

 filled with strong tobacco-water, soft-soap, or any mixture 

 that may be preferred, such as will make the hole too 

 unpleasant or poisonous for the grab to reuiain in, even if it 

 is not killed by the application. 



The fumes of sulphur blown into the holes are also very 

 effective in destroying the caterpillars (M. D.) ; and tobacco- 

 smoke has been suggested for the same purpose. 



This moth is preyed on by bats. 



Common Vapourer Moth. Orgijia antlqua, Lmn. 



Caterpillar (after Taschenberg). Male Moth. Female Moth, with 

 abortive wings. 



The pretty and easily distinguishable caterpillar of the 

 Common Vapourer Moth is not so well known as it should be, 

 on account of its destructive habits. In the words of Edward 

 Newman ('Brit. Moths,' p. 40), "it feeds on every tree or 

 shrub in the garden." Hawthorn and Sloe are especially 

 frequented, but it also feeds on the leafage of Pear and other 

 kinds of fruit trees ; of Roses and other garden plants ; and 

 sometimes on Fir. 



The caterpillars are very noticeable from their peculiar 

 tufts and bunches of hair. They are dark grey, spotted with 

 small red tubercles, and the four large tufts of hair on the 

 back are whitish or yellowish ; those at the head and tail, and 

 the two long tufts at the side, are dark. When full-fed the 

 caterpillar spins amongst the remains of the leaves on which 

 it has been feeding, or in some exposed place, as on trunks of 

 trees, palings, or the Hke, and there it changas to a dusky 



