CHAP. cm. 



SALICA^CKiE. 5'A^LIX. 



14.79 



1288 



various species of il/iiscje, were frequent attendants. On the 10th of June, 

 Mr. Curtis took the C'eranibyx moschatus on the trunk, but saw only one. 



" These extraordinary appearances," Mr. Curtis continues, " strangely ex- 

 cited my curiosity; I therefore often visited the tree, and, on minutely 

 examining its bark, I discovered several small coleopterous insects in its 

 crevices, which at first, from their great similitude, I mistook for the C'imex 

 lectularius : a more close inspection, however, soon convinced me that it was 

 Mlpha grisca [Nitidula grisea Fab., ^-c.]. On examining the sawdust-Hke 

 substance in its moist and fermenting state, I discovered many small larvae 

 feeding amongst it, which, when fully grown, were about a barleycorn in 

 length ; the body somewhat flattened, of a dirty white colour, haying G fore 

 feet and 2 hind ones ; the head of a brightish brown colour, furnished with 

 two jaws ; each joint of the body projecting at the sides, so as to give it a 

 kind of serrated appearance ; the neck of a blackish brown colour, with two 

 or more rows of small dots running therefrom down the back to the tail, which 

 was terminated by four small setae, turning a little upwards, the two lowermost 

 by much the longest. The larvae were generally found in considerable numbers 

 together, and, on being disturbed, ran pretty briskly. From their size, and 

 other concurring circumstances, I had no doubt but they were the larvae of 

 the iSilpha grisea, feeding on the 

 spoils of the tree's grand internal 

 enemy, Cossus Ligniperda." Mr. 

 Curtis, being determined to get 

 a sight of the N. grisea, with a 

 hatchet chopped out a piece of 

 the tree, sufficient for the disco- 

 very ; when the large maggots re- 

 presented in fig. 1288. at a, b, were 

 found in perpendicularly cylin- 

 drical cavities, corroding the sub- 

 stance of the wood : they were 



about twice or thrice as large as the maggot of the hazel nut, and very much 

 resembling it in shape; of a yellowish white colour, gross body, apparently 

 without any legs, having a shining head of a chestnut colour, armed with 

 strong jaws. 



On the 25th of July, cutting out a piece more of the tree. Mi-. Curtis " dis- 

 covered several i'llphae [Nitidulae] as represented in/g.l289.; and, at the same 

 time, found on the bark of the tree the Curculio [Cryptorhynchus //%.] 

 lapathi {fig. 1288. d, e) ; and, on cutting further into the tree, found the same 

 species just broken forth from its pupa (c)." Mr. Curtis "was then satisfied 

 that all the mischief which had been done to the tree was effected by this spe- 

 cies of C'urculionida;," viz. C. lapathi (rf, e) ; and which he " had some years 

 before found in great plenty on the leaves of the same species of ^alix," 

 viz. S. viminalis. Having succeeded in discovering the principal circum- 

 stances of the history of this insect, Mr. Curtis was not a little anxious to 

 find the Nitidula in its pupa state ; and, after searching for it in vain on, and 

 under, the bark of the tree, " I found," he says, " plenty of them under the 

 surface of the ground, among the moist earth and sawdust, and several, also, 

 of the same insect in its perfect state. I had no opportunity of observing in 

 what manner the female Curculio lapathi deposited her eggs : most probably 

 they are laid under the bark at first, or in some crack or crevice of the tree, 

 arising from an injury; at least, that is the mode in which the female Cos- 

 sus Ltgniperda de|30sits its eggs, and to prevent which, we cannot be too much 

 on our guard ; for, if the larvae have once entered the tree, we shall in vain 

 seek a remedy. If the tree, therefore, sustain any injury from lopping, or 

 from any other cause, a piece of canvass, spread over with some adhesive 

 resinous substance, should be ap[)licd to the wound ; or the nurseryman may 

 find his account in matting over the bodies of his young trees during the 

 months of June and July, when the moth comes out of its chrysalis; or, 



