THE VAGABONTD CRAMBUS : OBSERVATIONS AT MORLEY. 139 



excessive increase of our insect enemies, and of which it may serve as 

 a representative form), it is shown in the accompanying figure. 



Observations at Morley. — In many of the pastures lying upon the 

 road to Morley, patches, some of considerable extent, were seen where 

 the grass had been destroyed, as we were told, during the past week. 

 On entering Morley, a long stretch of a number of acres of pasture 

 land sloping down to the west bank of Grass river was pointed out to 

 us as an infested district. No shade of green could be seen upon it, 

 and it looked, at the distance, like a barren, sandy surface. Upon 

 reaching the residence of Secretary Harison, the unwelcome intelli- 

 gence was communicated to him that the "worm" had made its ap- 

 pearance in his pastures. An examination of them showed their dep- 

 redations, not extensive, but quite unmistakable, on many of the 

 little knolls where most of the grass had been eaten off nearly to the 

 crown, leaving only the dead and bleached blades of last year's growth. 

 A few caterpillars were discovered here, by turning over stones and 

 pieces of decayed wood, but none were seen feeding or in travel. 



The farms of Mr. Lorenzo Fen ton and Mr. John Rutheford were next 

 visited, where the " worms " had been reported in force. Upon each 

 of these, several acres of elevated pasture land were almost as brown as 

 in mid-winter, or, if showing any living vegetation, it was only sorrel or 

 some other wild growth. Two weeks previous the same fields were 

 entirely green and already affording fair pasturage. It was a strange 

 sight to see these desolated fields — some having only portions de- 

 stroyed, but the browned areas daily enlarging — and almost an entire 

 absence of the destroying agents. We were told that the caterpillars 

 were in the ground, and that large numbers could be taken from 

 every piece of sod lifted in a certain portion of the field. We examined 

 the place, which was almost stripped of its grass, but only a few larvae 

 were found in the sod. The interesting discovery, however, was here 

 made of the subterranean retreat of the caterpillar, at about a half-inch 

 beneath the surface, within a tube closely investing its body, composed 

 of fresh bits of green grass, closely compacted and fastened together 

 by silken threads, which at first sight seemed to be excrementa, but 

 on closer examination showed unaltered vegetable structure.* Pas- 

 sages from the surface of the ground seemed to lead to the cases, and 

 it appeared to us that they might serve for the abode of the caterpillar 

 during the day, which they would leave for feeding above ground at night. 

 It was stated to us, but on rather doubtful authority, that the cater- 

 pillars had been observed feeding in the day-time, when cautiously ap- 



*The correctness of this observation has been questioned, and the material of the 

 case pronounced excrementa. Its true character can be determined beyond dispute an- 

 other season. 



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