512 INSECTS AT HOME. 



observation ; and Laving made a smooth chamber big enough for 

 his wants, he spins a beautiful little milk-white silken case, in 

 which, after a few weeks, he becomes a chrysalis, and in this 

 state remains throughout the winter and until the following June, 

 unless some unlucky, black-headed tit, running up the trunk, 

 peeping into every cranny, and whistling out his. merry see-saw, 

 happen to spy him, in which case he is plucked without cere- 

 mony from his retreat, and his last moments are spent in the 

 bird's crop ; but, supposing no such ill-fortune betide him, by 

 the middle of June he is again on the wing, and hovering round 

 the young apples on a midsummer evening as before. 



' By burning weeds in your garden at this time of year, you 

 will effectually drive away this little Moth. If you have trees 

 the crops of which you value, make a smoking (mind ! not a 

 blazing) fire under each ; it will put you to some inconvenience 

 if your garden be near your house, but the apples will repay 

 you for that.' 



Despite these destructive habits of this insect — perhaps in 

 consequence of them — I have always cherished a kindly remini- 

 scence of this Moth. When I was a child there was a re- 

 markably fine codlin apple-tree in the garden, the fruit of 

 v^hich ripened early and was particularly juicy. As children, 

 we were not allowed to gather the fruit at our discretion, but 

 were permitted to take that which fell without any unfair 

 means being used, such as beating or shaking the branches. 

 Tlianks to the Codlin Moth, a considerable number of apples 

 always did fall annually, having ripened much before their time, 

 as is the manner of fruit which will never come to perfection. 

 Like most larvae which never see the light until they are full- 

 fed, the caterpillar of this insect is nearly colourless, with the 

 exception of the head, which is brown-black, hard, and shining. 



On Woodcut LIX. Fig. 2, is seen a magnified representation 

 of a Moth known by tlie popular name of the Single Blotch 

 {Ephippiphora scutulana). 



It derives its name from the rather peculiar colouring of 

 the wings, the upper pair of which are brown, variously 

 mottled, and each having on the inner margin a single square 

 blotch of white. It is a plentiful insect in all parts of Eng- 

 land. 



