1S14.J On the Arrtia Phceorrhcea. 131 



appearance in this neighbourhood for a series of years. Now it i3 

 needless to observe that last winter was the most severe since \J'.)5. 

 A mild winter is generally wet, and rain seems to be more inju- 

 rious to insects than cold. Besides, a few days of warm neat her 

 bring-; them out of their lurking places, and then they are apt to be 

 destroyed by the first severe day to which they are exposed. 



The brown tail moth is of a white colour throughout, except a 

 streak of brown on the under side of each fore wing, running near 

 to and parallel with its anterior edge, and a brown, or mouse-co- 

 loured, tail, from which it derives its name. These moths come 

 out of the chrysalis about the beginning of July, at which time 

 they may be found flying about slowly, especially in the evening, 

 and depositing their eggs on the foliage of the trees and shrubs 

 which are adapted for the nourishment of the young caterpillars. 

 The female has a much larger tuft of down on its tail than the 

 male, a great part of which is made use of for covering its eggs, 

 which when laid look like small lumps of down on the leaves. 



" The young caterpillars are hatched early in autumn. As soon 

 as they quit the egg they set about spinning a web ; and having 

 formed a small one, they proceed to feed on the foliage, by eating 

 the upper surface and fleshy part of the leaf, leaving the under side 

 and the ribs. It is curious to observe with what regularity they 

 marshal themselves for this purpose. Thus they proceed daily, 

 spinning and enlarging their web, to which they retreat every 

 night, and in bad weather, and extending their depredations. In 

 the course of a few weeks their operations begin to be visible on 

 the trees. Their web as yet is not so conspicuous, as those leaves 

 which, being stripped of their green part, assume a dead appear- 

 ance. Now is the time to destroy them, while their nest is small, 

 and their ravages just conspicuous. They may be cut off the twigs 

 or branches with a pruning knife or gardener's shears, whose handles 

 may, if necessary, be lengthened ; or by a sharp hook affixed to 

 the end of a long pole. When cut off, they shoidd be collected 

 I t her and burnt, merely to prevent their returning again to the 

 trees and shrubs. By performing this operation thus early, you 

 save the autumnal verdure of your foliage. If it be deferred till 

 winter, the web will then be more conspicuous, and wili have 

 acquired a stronger and tougher texture, so as to bear pulling off, 

 which should be preferred to pinning in certain cases, especially 

 where it regards fruit-trees, No remedy short of removing the 

 wibs will avail. Lotions, fumigations, vermin powder, &C. will 

 be applied to no purpose. The insects are too strongly enveloped 

 to be affected by any of these, in about three weeks from their 

 being first bat- lied, the) chai e their skin; a process which not 

 only all catei pillars und< rgo four 01 h've times at dillcreni periods of 

 their growth, but also the spider, the bed bug, and even lobsters 

 and crab-. This usually take, up several days. Afterwards they 

 ime maoner, enlarging their web, and extending 

 their daily fo nil benumbing wlQter confine, them 



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