THE GOAT MOTH. 203 



the edges, to effect its escape. With us they chiefly 

 inhabit the ash ; and we very commonly see at the roots 

 of our aged trees the fragments removed by them in 

 forming their passages. In breaking up the decayed 

 pollards, we not unusually find the grub in all the stages 

 of its growth ; but more generally observe them with- 

 out inhabitants, yet perforated with paths large enough 

 to admit the ringer. I suspect that these " augerworms " 

 are the primary cause of the decay of the tree ; having 

 often observed their perforations, and found them, both 

 large and small, in the solid spur or root of the tree, 

 when the upper portion, having been bored and in a 

 state of decline, is abandoned by them. Those that are 

 full fed appear to form their cases in that part which 

 has lost coherency, while the younger and imperfected 

 creatures mine their way, and obtain nutriment in the 

 solid timber, thus killing the tree by inches; when rain 

 and moisture find lodgment, and complete the dissolu- 

 tion. One year's preparation is the period usually as- 

 signed to the larvae of most insects, before they arrive 

 at their perfect state ; but by the goat moth three years 

 are required before it attains its winged state from the 

 egg. Consequently, for the larger portion of its life it 

 is occupied in these destructive operations ; and thus 

 this creature becomes a very powerful agent in reducing 

 these Titans of the vegetable world, crumbling them 

 away to their original dust : for what was decreed to be 

 the termination and punishment of man is found in 

 active operation throughout the whole chain of nature's 

 works, which are but dust, and unto dust return, con- 

 tinuing an endless series of production and decay, of 

 restoration and of change. All these larva? which I have 

 observed in the colder portions of our year, were hard, 

 stiff, and torpid, but soon became relaxed and animated 

 by the warmth of the hand : thus they probably remain 

 quiet during the winter months, but revive in spring, 

 and recommence their ravage in the tree. The cater- 

 pillar of this moth I believe to be the largest of any 

 of those of the British lepidopterae ; and when full fed 

 exceeds in size that of the death's-head sphinx. To 

 those who dislike the appearance of things of this nature, 



