Season o/1813. 281 



3irds, and poultry^ have, in former seasons, preyed 

 on, and thinned the insects. But few of our poultry 

 Avill feed on caterpillars, unless hard pressed. — I do 

 not remember, in any former year, so many, and so 

 captivating and beautiful a variety of birxis ; as, in the 

 early parts of the spring and summer, filled our forests 

 and fields. They disappeared, as if by common con- 

 sent, early and suddenly. On their return to us, from 

 their more northern excursions, they made but a short 

 stay. This dereliction gave full scope to the depreda- 

 tions of insects, and other pillagers. Snakes and toads 

 (great destroyers of other vermin) were scarce. But 

 land-terrapins were in greater plenty, than I have ever 

 before known. They delight to feed on and destroy 

 beetles; and are peculiarly fond of the cock chaffer;^ 

 — the parent of the most mischievous grubs. The 

 terrapins (an excellent esculent, if prejudice could be 

 banished,) are often seen about cow-dung; in search 

 of the beetles ; which deposit, and roll up, their eggs, 



* The Cockchaffer produces the larj^e whiiQ grub, with a brown, 

 horny or shelly head ; turned up by the plough, with the sod ; and 

 TTiuch relished by birds and poultry ; who follow the ploughman, for 

 their prey. It remains in its grub-state, three or four years. It is 

 highly mischievous to grass, or any crop ploughed in with, or sow- 

 ed on, the sod ; — particularly potatoes. See Rath Socifiy Memoirs^ 

 1787; also IViilich's Domestic Encyclopedia^ article Cockchaffer ; 

 for a curious account of tliis beetle^ or bug. 



The beetles.) last mentioned in the text, bring forth the Corn- 

 Crubs or CuT-wouMS ; which have been seen, in great numbers, 

 in an embryo state, in the holes in which the balls have been depo- 

 sited. R. W 

 VOL. Til. N n 



