CHAP. XLii. rosaceje. py^rus. S05 



Wormeaten Fniit. Apples often fall off prematurely, from being wormeaten. 

 The cause of this is a beautiful little moth, with wings studded with silvery 

 shining specks, the economy of which has been satisfactorily pointed out by a 

 writer'in the Entomological Magazine. This insect leaves the chrysahs state 

 about the middle of June, about which time the apples are well set. Tlie moth 

 now lays its eggs in the eye of the apple, one only in each, by introducing 

 its long ovipositor between the leaves of the calyx, which form a tent above 

 it, that effectually shields it from the inclemency of the weather, or any other 

 casualty. "As soon as the egg hatches, the little grub gnaws a hole in the 

 crown of the apple, and soon buries itself in its substance; and it is worthy of 

 remark, that the rind of the apple, as if to afford every facility to the destroyer, 

 is thinner here than in any other part, and, consequently, more easily pierced. 

 The apple most commonly attacked is the codlin, a large early sort, which 

 ripens in July and August. 



" The grub, controlled by an unvarying instinct, eats into the apple ob- 

 liquely downwards, and, by thus avoiding the core and pips, in no way hinders 

 its growth : at first it makes but slow progress, being little bigger than a 

 thread; but, after a fortnight, its size and its operations havemucli increased. 

 It has now eaten half-waj^ down the apple ; and the position of the hole at 

 the top, if the apple continue upright, or nearly so, is inconvenient for a pur- 

 pose it has up to this time been used for, that is, as a pass to get rid of 

 itshttle pellets of excrement, which are something like fine sawdust, or coarse 

 sand. Another communication with the outer air is therefore required ; and 

 it must be so constructed as to allow the power of gravity to assist in keeping 

 it clear. It is accordingly made directly downwards, towards that part of 

 the apple which is lowest; and thus tlie trouble of thrusting the pellets 

 upwards through the eye of the apple is saved, and a constant admission 

 given to a supply of air without any labour. The hole now made is not, 

 however, sufficiently open for an observer to gain b}' its means any know- 

 ledge of what is going on within ; this is only to be obtained by cutting open 

 a number of the apples, as they gradually advance towards ripeness ; the hole 

 is, however, very easily seen, from its always having adhering to it, on the 

 outside, an accunnilation of the little grains which have been thrust through. 

 Having completed this work, the grub returns towards the centre of the apple, 

 where he feeds at his ease. When within a few days of being full fed, he, 

 for the first time, enters the core, through a round hole gnawed in the hard 

 horny substance which always separates the pips from the pulp of the fruit; 

 antl the destroyer now finds himself in that spacious chamber, which codlins, 

 in particular, always have in their centre. From this time he eats only the 

 the pips, never again tasting the more common pulp, which hitherto had 

 satisfied his unsophisticated palate; now nothing less than the highly fla- 

 voured aromatic kernels will suit his tooth; and on these, for a few days, he 

 feasts in luxury. 



" Somehow'or other, the pips of an apple are connected with its growth, as 

 the heart of an animal with its life : injure the heart, an animal dies ; injure 

 the pips, an apple falls. Whether the fall of his house gives the tenant warning 

 to quit, I cannot say, but quit he does, and that almost immediately. He 

 leaves the core, crawls along his breathing and clearing-out gallery, the mouth 

 of which, before nearly closed, he now gnaws into a smooth round hole, which 

 will permit him free passage, without hurting his fat, soft, round body ; then 

 out he comes, and, for the first time in his life, finds himself in the open air. 

 He now wanders about on the ground till he finds the stem of a tree : up this 

 he climbs, and iiides himself in some nice little crack in the bark. I should 

 remark that the fall of the apple, the exit of the grub, and his wandering to 

 this place of security, usually take place in the night-time. In this situation 

 he remains withoutstirring "for a day or two, as if to rest himself after the 

 uncommon fatigue of a two yards' march ; he then gnaws away the bark a 

 little, in order to get further in out of the way of observation ; and, having 

 made a smooth chamber, big enough for his wants, he spins a beautiful 



