56 



it nevertheless commits great destruction 

 every s])ring, and not only to the apple- 

 trees but other kinds of fruits. As my 

 object in writing its history is intended to 

 shew to persons not acquainted with this 

 subject, its mode of living and producing 

 its offspring, I trust I shall be held ex- 

 cused if I descend to particulars that may 

 to some persons be already known. 



The female deposits its eggs between 

 the interstices of the bark, and as near 

 to the ends of the branches as she can 

 find convenient, and more generally on 

 old trees where there is plenty of moss, 

 &c. to shelter the young as soon as they 

 are hatched, than on younger ones. The 

 eggs are coated with a strong mucus, 

 of more power than the finest glue, 

 as being quite impervious to moisture, 

 which serves to stick the eggs firmly to 

 the branch, those become moreover so 

 hard, that neither the birds nor other ani- 

 mals can destroy them, and in this state, 

 we have instances of their remaining 

 without losing their vitality for several 

 years, until a favourable opportunity of 



