GOLDEN CHAFER, 23 
turned to account by digging ditches across their path. These, if 
filled with water, will destroy myriads, or, if dry, may be equally well 
utilized by driving sheep along them, or otherwise trampling the 
caterpillars to death ; but where it is practicable, directing the migra- 
tory hordes into the water by judicious firing of the dry grass and 
plants appears to be the simplest course. 
CHAFERS :—Golden Chafer. Cetonia aurata, Linn. Rose Chafer. 
Phyllopertha horticola, Linn. Common Cockchafer. Melo- 
lontha vulgaris, Fab. Summer Chafer. Lhizotrogus solstitialis, 
Linn. 
Cretonia AuRATA, Golden Chafer.—Beetle, grub, back of pupa, and earth-cocoon. 
Presence of the four kinds of Chafers mentioned above was reported 
during the past season. Of these, the three kinds first named are 
always more or less present, and sometimes (especially in the case of 
the Rose Chafer) seriously mischievous. The fourth of those named, 
the Summer Chafer, although sometimes noticeable in great numbers, 
and (as I have seen them myself on the Severn cliffs in west 
Gloucestershire) fairly loading the low-growing bushes, or trailing 
boughs of the wild Lathyrus Pea, has never been reported to me 
as causing real damage in this country, either in the beetle or maggot 
state. 
All the above kinds of chafers are much alike in their method of 
life. The beetles feed chiefly on leafage of various kinds, or on flower 
petals, or stamens. The Cockchafers mainly frequent leafage; the 
Rose Chafers, although hurtful to leaves, are very injurious to various 
kinds of flowers, especially to Roses; and the Golden Chafer infests 
flowers, and is especially injurious to Strawberry-blossom, and also to 
Turnips left for seed, by destroying the anthers of the stamens; the 
Summer Chafer is seen on the Continent hovering in vast swarms 
