DESTRUCTION OF TREES BY LARVAE. 



133 



every oak, great and small, had been attacked by 

 larvae ; the highest branches appeared to be princi- 

 pally selected by them. Great isolated oak trees, 

 as well as those which formed dense forests, were 

 alike attacked in this manner, their summits being 

 absolutely withered and dry. Had we not known 

 how greatly the larvae may multiply, and what 

 fearful ravages they are capable of committing, 

 one might have conceived that some hot and 



Destructive Larva and its Nest 



blasting wind had reduced the leaves to this con- 

 dition. In certain districts, the hedges along the 



