lxxx 
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 
earnest and quickly accomplished their allotted task. That the 
ducks throve upon their new food, I had a positive proof in a Jine 
couple of them which were obligingly sent me. 
“ Capt. W., of Long Dutton, also reports favourably of his 
obligations to the ducks ; adding that turkeys would not touch 
the caterpillar, but that fowls were equally useful with the 
former. 
“ At Chertsey last year two adjoining farms were visited by 
the blacks. The farmer upon one of them put 150 fowls, most 
of them about half grown, into a waggon, which was drawn into 
the middle of his turnip-field, where they were turned loose, and 
quickly annihilated the caterpillars. His neighbour, Mr. L., the 
owner of the other farm, hearing of this fact, sent to borrow the 
fowls ; they tvere immediately lent, and promptly rendered the same 
important service to him which they had done for their owner. 
“ The above particulars afford satisfactory proofs of the great 
advantages of using poultry, as the most certain, direct and com- 
plete means of destroying the black caterpillar ; while all the 
other remedies which have been proposed, as sweeping with a 
rope, hand-picking, sprinkling quick lime, watering the fields 
with salt water, &c. are comparatively merely palliative, partial 
and imperfect in their operation, and not to be relied on. There 
is one point I would recommend to the attention of the farmer — 
that he should carefully preserve some of his expert, practised 
hunters of one year, in order that they may (if unluckily required) 
render him similar services in a subsequent one ; and with this 
further advantage, that they would, by their example, induce the 
younger birds to commence their operations without loss of time. 
It is evidently of great consequence that the first appearance of 
the caterpillars should be carefully watched, and not be allowed 
to pass unregarded ; but that, as soon as they are discovered, 
a number of young ducks or fowls, or both, should forthwith be 
set to work. 
“ What effect the intense cold experienced in January last may 
have upon the future appearance of Athalia centifolice must at 
present be problematical, but when we recollect that it remains in 
state of larva, enclosed in a slightly organized cocoon, at no great 
depth in the ground, through the winter, and that, moreover, 
there was no covering of snow upon the earth during the extreme 
severity of the weather, it may reasonably be expected that the 
numbers of this destructive insect will be very considerably re- 
duced for some years to come.” [See also the observations of 
Messrs. Sells and Manning, ante, p. Ixiv.] 
