38 Sir G. S. Mackenzie's Notices of 



to the mora diminutive vegetables, having recalled to my 

 memory some insects altogether new to the inhabitants of 

 this country, which appeared many years ago, it has occurred 

 to me, that some account of them, however slight, may be ac- 

 ceptable to you ; as, by recording it, future observers may be 

 enabled to note more precisely the habits of these singular 

 creatures, as well as to describe them. Not being sufficiently 

 versed in the technicalities of entomology, I must confine my- 

 self to a simple notice, and a very imperfect description. The 

 facts, however, are curious, and may interest those who have 

 paid particular attention to that branch of natural history. 



The first insect which I have observed as of unusual oc- 

 currence, appeared eighteen or twenty years ago, and covered 

 the panicles of the oat crop in this part of Scotland. It was 

 of a globular shape, and of a deep brown, almost black colour. 

 It seemed quite inert, and fixed to one spot on the grain. The 

 size was about that of No. 3 shot, I could not find any per- 

 son who had before observed the same insect, and it has not 

 appeared since. The crop did not appear to have suffered any 

 serious injury from it. 



The next was a caterpillar, which I found infesting the 

 pear-trees of only one garden in this county, that at Geanies 

 House, situate on the eastern promontory of Ross. It appear- 

 ed about the same time, I think, with the insect already noticed. 

 It resembled very much a small black leech, and appeared as 

 if wet with water. I think it was late in the autumn when it 

 appeared. I have now to regret that I did not preserve some 

 of these insects. 



If I mistake not, it was in the year 1815, that a caterpillar, 

 which I did not see, stript the birch trees of their leaves, over 

 a great extent of country. I happened to be in Edinburgh at 

 the time it was committing its ravages, and travelled north- 

 ward after it had disappeared. I noticed the birch trees to 

 the north of Dunkeld, and all along the Highland road, to be 

 as naked about the end of July, as they had been in winter ; 

 and I dreaded to find my own extensive birch woods complete- 

 ly destroyed. I found, however, that the destroyer had kept 

 within a certain limit to the westward ; but I did not ascer- 

 tain how far its ravages extended eastward. The insect was 



