124 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



while these thrust a pin through its tail. Yet, its 

 terrible ravages considered, the insect little de- 

 serves to be pitied ; but, we are not therefore to 

 be understood as by any means sanctioning the 

 cruel and inhuman sport alluded to. These larvae 

 are hatched in a sort of little cavern dug by the 

 parent insect's care under the ground in our mea- 

 dows, or corn-fields. Here they begin their 

 ravages by devouring the roots of the grasses 

 which surround them on all sides. In this manner 

 they very quickly destroy the plants, which wither 

 and die in a manner quite mysterious to the agri- 

 culturist, if he does not happen to think of these 

 insects. The turf soon becomes so completely 

 undermined by these excavators, that it may be 

 rolled off as smooth as if a knife had been used 

 underneath to cut off all its connexions with the 

 ground. In a few weeks, meadows which shone 

 in all the fresh and luxuriant green raiment of 

 Spring, change colour, and before Summer has yet 

 come, and before the stalks of the grass are yet 

 grown up, one would think Autumn had passed 

 over the face of the field, from its dry and dead 

 aspect. About seventy years ago, we are told 

 these larvae did so much injury to a poor farmer's 



