44 ON THE AGROTIS VASTATOR, 



thousands in the ocean : those seen returning to the shore were 

 the fortunate few that had escaped before being carried too far 

 to sea. I remember some years ago walking along the sands for 

 about five miles, between Newcastle and Red Head, and 1 

 observed an almost continuous undulating line of dead bodies, 

 several deep, of these moths, marking the wash of high water 

 along the whole of this length of beach, interrupted only by 

 the rocky headlands, and probably this exhibition of the fate of 

 these insects in such vast numbers was continued for a con- 

 siderable distance on either hand. 



Were it not for the wholesale destruction of these vast 

 assemblages of insect pests, caused by the violence of winds — 

 by the fall of rain for several days successively — by sudden 

 change of temperature — and by the host of enemies, following in 

 their wake, consisting of insectivorous birds, and reptiles, and 

 the numerous family of the Ichneumonidse, I fear all the 

 endeavours of man by artificial means to eradicate them would 

 be baffled. The abundant food furnished by the roots and leaves 

 of the various weeds and grasses growing over a vast extent of 

 waste lands, will always ensure too ample a supply of such 

 noxious creatui-es. We can, however, check in some degree the 

 injury to our crops, and thus moderate the evil ; by ploughing 

 and harrowing the fallow lands, thus cutting off the immediate 

 supply of food ; by passing the roller again and again over the 

 growing crops when practicable ; and by encouraging, not 

 molesting, the many species of birds that visit the fields in flocks 

 on such occasions. I have seen crows, large brown hawks, 

 magpies, cranes, spur-winged plovers, and a host of smaller 

 birds, enjoying during the day ample meals furnished by these 

 caterpillars, and had a great difficulty in preventing the overseer 

 from driving them away " because," he said, " they eat the 

 lucerne." The large family of Ichneumons (little wasp-like 

 creatures) is also a great ally of man in the war of extermination, 

 for they pierce the bodies of the living caterpillars, depositing 

 their eggs within them, and thus cause a slow but certain death 

 before the larvae can attain to the perfect or winged state, and 

 on this account they ought to be encouraged. I add a few words 

 to assist in that object, although with but faint hope of success. 



