1^6 THE WOODLANDS. 



same the larvae form other minute cavities nearly 

 parallel to each other. The larvae are small fleshy 

 grubs with white bodies and chestnut heads. 



In pine forests a similar little beetle is destructive 

 in another way. This beetle 1 burrows for one or 

 several inches below the terminal bud on the youngest 

 shoots of the Scotch fir, eating out the pith straight 

 upwards, and gnawing out again near the bud or 

 through it. It bores through the shoots of Spruce in 

 like manner when there are none of the Scotch pine 

 to be found. Its eggs are laid under the bark of 

 sickly or felled pines. It would be useless to attempt 

 to enumerate the minute beetles which revel in the 

 vegetation of our woodlands, not only injuring the 

 larger trees, but establishing themselves in the stems 

 of herbaceous plants, taking possession of old fungi, 

 and going down to the roots of grasses, in one or 

 other of their stages. 



Of all noteworthy beetles, none surpass in interest the 

 pretty little "Ladybirds," and few insects are more useful. 



" I would not hurt it for the world ; 

 Its prettiness says, Spare me ; and it bears 

 Armour so beautiful upon its back, 

 I could not injure it to be a queen. 

 Look, sir, its coat is scarlet dropp'd with jet, 

 Its eyes pure ivory." 



Throughout its whole career, this little insect is the 

 determined foe of the Aphis, or Plant-louse, myriads 

 of which it annually destroys. Immense swarms are 

 sometimes seen in Kent and Sussex, where they feed 



1 ffylurgus piniperda. 



