76 INTRODUCTION. 



some of the parishes*. The caterpillar of the 

 Gamma-moth is common in all parts of the country, 

 and as it feeds indiscriminately on a great variety 

 of vegetables, it probably produces more damage 

 than most of the indigenous species. The larvfc, 

 of Charaeas Graminis has sometimes done much 

 mischief to the pastures in the south of Scotland 

 and northern parts of England, but it is happily of 

 rather rare occurrence in the south. In the conti- 

 nental countries of Europe, the ravages of some of 

 the caterpillars just mentioned are sometimes carried 

 to an extent of which our own country, probably 

 from its insular situation, affords no example. On 

 one occasion those of the Gamma-moth overran 

 great part of France, devouring almost every thing 

 green, with the fortunate exception of the different 

 kinds of corn. The peasantry of Alsace suffered so 

 severely that they went to their priests and entreated 

 them to try the effect of religious processions in 

 ridding them of the plague ; and the people of Paris, 

 under the idea that the creatures were poisonous, 

 ceased for a time to use any kind of vegetable for 

 food. Unhappily no effectual means of easy appli- 

 cation has yet been found to guard vegetables from 

 their attacks or speedily to diminish their numbers. 

 Reaumur suggests that in times of scarcity they 

 might be used as an article of food ! 



o 



Of these caterpillars some are solitary during their 

 whole life, appearing to hold no intercourse whatever 

 * Hist, of Brown-tail-moth, by W.Curtis London 1782. 



