ANTLER MOTH, IN FINLAND. a} 
greyish. The eggs are very numerous, and are laid in the ground, or 
at the base of the grasses on which the grubs feed. These eggs soon 
hatch, and in regular course the young caterpillars feed awhile on the 
soft parts of the grass-shoots, then hybernate and come out again to 
feed in the following spring. 
The caterpillars when full-grown are about an inch in length, with 
brown head, body of a bronzy colour, excessively shiny on the upper 
part, and divided by three pale longitudinal lines, two of these 
pale stripes meeting, or almost meeting, above the tail (see figure, 
p. 18), and another pale and narrower line running lengthwise be- 
neath them. 
It is evident from last winter’s experience (that is, from the 
temperatures of February, 1895), that a severity of cold both much 
greater and also longer continued than is usual in this island does not 
avail to clear off this pest. Nor can this be expected if we consider 
the localities recorded in the observations on the geographical distri- 
bution of this infestation in Finland, by Prof. Odo M. Reuter.* 
Prof. Reuter begins his observations as follows:—‘‘ The Grass- 
Owlet} (Chareas graminis, L.) is widely distributed, especially in the 
north. In Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, Courland, Russia, Norway, 
and especially in Sweden, the devastation of meadows by the cater- 
pillars of these moths has long been known... . In the last ten 
years [preceding 1892, the date of report, Ep.] the caterpillars of the 
Grass-Owlet have also appeared in Finland in very destructive num- 
bers. In the year 1880 ravage from them was still unknown ; only 
in the parishes of Saltvik and Geta, in Aland, was there some amount 
of harm caused by these grubs.{ This year, however, in nearly all 
the Governments, was known as being a bad hay-year. The cause 
assigned for this was the cold spring, and, later on, the long-continued 
drought. 
‘‘But by the middle of June [in 1881] the caterpillars suddenly 
appeared in the district of Helsing (Government of Nyland), and 
shortly afterwards enormous devastations were reported from many 
places.” —(O. M. R. loc. cit.) 
The further spread of the infestation year by year in Finland, up 
to 1891 inclusive, is given by Prof. Reuter, with names specified of 
the Governments, and of the parishes or localities therein, to which its 
* «Zur Kentniss der geographischen Verbreitung der Graseule in Finnland,’ 
yon O. M. Reuter, mit einer Karte. Fennia, 5, 12. Helsingfors, 1892. Knopio 
O. W. Backmans boktryckeri. 1892. 
+ “Eule,’’ in German, equivalent to Owl or Owlet, or Noctua, scientifically 
referring to the nocturnal habits of the moths. 
t Aland is the chief of a group of small islands lying to the west of the south: 
western extremity of Finland. 
