192 THE WOODLANDS. 



latter deposits as many as three hundred eggs in a 

 mass. The young caterpillars when first hatched 

 feed upon the bark, but they afterwards enter the 

 solid wood. The tunnels ultimately constructed are 

 as large as a swan's quill, and the presence of the ex- 

 cavator may often be detected by the sawdust outside. 



The Buff Tip, 1 when its wings are expanded, 

 measures from two and a half to three inches wide ; 

 the wings are of a light ash grey with a large, nearly 

 round spot at the tip. When this moth appears in 

 May or June it sits with its wings close to its body, 

 and in this condition it resembles a stick, the cut end 

 represented by the terminal spots. The caterpillar 

 feeds on the lime, and is dark brown with longitudi- 

 nal yellow stripes. Other trees often come in for a 

 share of its favours, and as it attains two inches in 

 length when full-grown, the quantity of food it requires 

 is considerable. We have given a more explicit 

 description of these insects than space will permit us 

 to do for others, because they are so common, so 

 destructive, so thoroughly woodland insects, and of 

 such a size that they cannot well be overlooked. 



It may be remarked here that some insects when 

 at rest so greatly resemble the vegetation amongst 

 which they are found as to be scarcely distinguish- 

 able from it. We do not allude alone to the remark- 

 able " leaf insects " and " stick insects " of tropical 

 countries, of which specimens may be seen in the 

 India Museum at South Kensington, but to the less 

 pretentious insects of our own lands. Out of fifty- 



1 Py^a bucephala. 



