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THE WOODLANDS. 



forated as though with a gimlet. It insinuates itself 

 into these holes, or into the crevices of the bark, for 

 the purpose of depositing its eggs. On stripping off 

 a piece of the loose bark, we may easily understand 

 how the barking of trees is effected by these minute 

 animals, for the surface of the wood thus exposed 

 presents to the view innumerable impressions, which 



THE ELM-DESTROYING BEETLE. 



may be compared to impressions or casts of large and 

 broad Scolopendrse. The middle or body of this 

 singular impression marks the path of the perfect 

 female insect while employed in laying her eggs, 

 which is to her, as to most other winged insects, the 

 immediate forerunner of death. From this tubular 

 path, however, in which she deposits her eggs, the 

 larvae, which are hatched from these eggs in the shape 

 of little white footless worms, proceed nearly at right 

 angles, eating their way in parallel smaller tubes, 

 which, lying close to each other, effectually serve to 

 separate the bark from the tree. The larvae remain 

 feeding in the tree, generally between the bark and the 



