AND OTHER INSECTS WHICH INFEST CONIFEILE. 135 



may, indeed, to a considerable extent, be achieved by preventing 

 the too frequent and indiscriminate slaughter of many species of 

 small birds and other forest denizens ; for it is a remarkable fact 

 that the smaller birds feed much more generally (by a wise pro- 

 vision of Providence) upon such insects as happen to be injurious 

 to tree life than upon the harmless varieties. 



One of the most useful insects in attacking and destroying 

 many of those allied species which are injurious to the pine tribe is 

 the Thanasinus formicarius (Linn.), and the destructive abilities of 

 this small creature are truly marvellous, depositing its eggs not 

 unfrequently in the wood-boring larvae themselves, as well as in the 

 bodies of many other descriptions of very destructive insects, and 

 also in the larvae of numerous kinds of destructive beetles which 

 live between the bark and wood of decaying trees. 



While it will thus be seen, from the foregoing cursory sketch of 

 some of the numerous enemies of Coniferae, that their name is truly 

 "Legion," it yet remains that some remedial measures should be 

 pointed out to check the ravages of these incursive hosts, and 

 so preserve the healthful amenity of our beautiful coniferous 

 favourites. 



The first suggestion that naturally falls to be offered, with the view 

 of preventing, or at all events of retarding, the attacks of predacious 

 insects, is the entire removal, after felling or thinning any planta- 

 tion or strip, of all brushwood, refuse, or root stumps, which may 

 be left. Indeed, the instant transport of these outside the wood, 

 and their immediate consumption on the spot, is the first safe- 

 guard which can be suggested for healthy plantations. In the case 

 of woods where insect attacks have become apparent upon sdver firs, 

 Scots firs, or other common nurses, the immediate felling and 

 removal for burning of the infected victims may tend to stay or 

 lessen the plague. Paring off the grass all round infected trees, to 

 the distance of a yard on each side, and burning the turf along with 

 the diseased plant, is also a good and frequently an effectual 

 remedy. 



"Where it is practicable, and can be economically done, it is 

 well, before planting any strip or ornamental belt of wood, to plough 

 the ground deeply. This not only turns over the sod and affords 

 less cover for insect fife therein, but also affords a deep soft bed 

 for the young roots of the new plantation, and thereby induces a 

 rapid and healthy start, which is always beneficial to a newly-formed 

 wood. Early thinning, boldly and fearlessly accomjMshed, so 



