DIAMOND-BACK MOTH. 129 



attributable to the absence of birds, before those who lean to a view of 

 trouble being arising from this cause; but I have only copied the short 

 sentences bearing on presence of the attack. 



These will, I think, be considered to show the great prevalence on 

 the coast, and the note by Capt. "Winchester regarding the clouds of 

 moths being brought by the easterly ninds from the shore ; and being 

 seen on the Fame Islands (when the wind was blowing towards the 

 shore) is a valuable confirmation of other observations, all pointing to 

 the pests being windborne, and spreading westward on the land.* 



The notes are arranged in two series of localities : the first running from 

 Beal southward along or near the coast, the other more inland. 



Mr. A. M. Hardy, Koss, Beal. — " One hundred acres nearly all 

 destroyed." 



Capt. Winchester, R.N.K., Greenhill, Belford. — " Turnips com- 

 pletely destroyed, some of them three weeks ago." 



Mr. James Tait, Estate Office, Belford. — " Swedes and earliest 

 hybrids very badly affected ; last sown ones not much and may 

 recover." 



Mr. Eichard D. Little, North Charlton, Chathill.— " My Turnips 

 are affected with the pest in every field." 



Mr. John Craster, J. P., Craster Towers, Lesbury. — "Very much 

 affected, particularly Swedes." 



Mr. H. H. Scott, Hipsburn, Lesbury. — •' My Turnips are badly 

 affected by the caterpillar." 



Mr. John Bolam, Bilton House, Lesbury. — " My Turnips are very 

 slightly affected by the pest ; it is scarcely noticeable on them." 



Mr. W. Pringle, Branton, Alnwick. — " The caterpillars were first 

 noticed here on Friday, the 24th (of July, Ed.), on two fields of Swedes ; 

 so far the whites have not suffered." 



Mr. Edw. Forster, Broome Park, Alnwick. — " The pest is on my 

 Turnips, which, however, were well advanced before being attacked, 

 and are as yet holding their own against the enemy." 



Mr. T. H. Jobling, Stamford, Alnwick. — " I regret to say my 

 Turnips, especially the Swedes, are affected, the larger ones suffering 

 least." 



Mr. Geo. Edw. Coxon, New Bewick, Alnwick. — " So far only 

 slightly affected. Early-sown Turnips seem to have suffered the most." 



(Memorandum in Capt. Winchester's report). — * " They are brought here in a 

 cloud by the prevailing easterly winds of our late spring, and I am told they were 

 seen sticking on the light-house windows on the Fame Islands " (this was recorded 

 as occurring on the night preceding July 10th, and the moths were identified as 

 Diamond-backs ; see details given further on regarding appearances of vast swarms 

 of moths on the English and Scotch coasts, Ed.) " when the wind was blowing 

 towards the shore. That could show which way they had come." 



