236 SMALL ANIMALS AND INSECTS. [Chap. II. 



notice, nor perhaps suffer as nnich from the ravages of these families of the 

 Lcpidoptera as tlie horticulturist proper. And the great order of insects to 

 which this class belongs are, perhaps, tlie greatest scourge with which the 

 worker in the soil has to contend. According to Dr. Fitch, the most of this 

 species belong to the genus Agrotis, of tlic family Noctuidaj, or Owlet-moths. 

 In England, the insects of this genus are named Dart-moths, from a i:)eculiar 

 spot or streak which many of them have near the base of their fore wings, 

 resembling the point of a dart or spear, and he says that much the most 

 common species of this genus in the State of New York can be nothing else 

 than the Gothic dart, Agrotis suhgothica of the British entomologists. Tliey 

 are the same wliich flit about the liglits in summer evenings, and arc found 

 hid by day within crevices and shutters. To show still further the import- 

 ance of this class of insects, I will quote from Dr. Harris, showing some of 

 the families. 116 has divided them into three sections, called Butterflies, 

 Ilawk-moths, and moths corresponding to the genera Papilio, Sphinx, and 

 Phalaena of Linnaeus. 



To the first of these orders belong the caterpillars of our common butter- 

 flies, many of which are very destructive to vegetation. To the second be- 

 longs that class of caterpillars which infect the potato, the grapevine, etc. ; 

 the Algerians, or, as they are commonly called, Borers, which latter name, 

 however, is equally .applicable to the larviE of insects of many other orders. 

 The third great section includes a vast number of insects, Bomctimcs called 

 Millers, from their dusty covering, or Night Butterflies, but more frequently 

 Moths. Among these are the Cut-worm, the Bee-moth, and all other insects 

 belonging to the order Lcpidoptera which can not be arranged among the 

 butterflies and hawk-moths. 



The most common of the Cut-worm tribe which have come under my ob- 

 servation the present season, are the Striped Cut-worm, the Eed-headed 

 Cut-worm, and the Black Worm. 



The first is of a dirty whitish color, inclining to brown, with darker 

 stripes. Tliis worm works upon the surface of the ground, and may be found 

 at any hour of the day, if damp and cloud}-. The red-headed cut-worm 

 has, as its name implies, a red head, and is of a uniform pale brown color, 

 and has this season been particularly destructive; and as it works under 

 ground, it is death to whatever it attacks. 



The Black, or (as it is sometimes called) Tiger worm may easily be known 

 when seen by its dark, dull brown color and black head. It works under 

 ground, just below the surface, drawing the stems and leaves after it into 

 its hole. 



There are a number of others, among which are the faintly-lined cut- 

 worm and the white cut-worm. Of the latter, I have not found a single 

 specimen this season, though last year I found several. They are rare, and 

 consequently do but little damage. In this day of patent discoveries, any 

 one who has plenty of money and ample time to spend may furnish himself 

 with a thousand-and-one nostrums which are said to be effectual extermi- 



