THE GOAT MOTH. 297 



paths large enough to admit the finger. I suspect 

 that these * f 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 lodgement, and com- 

 plete the dissolution. One year's preparation is the 

 period usually assigned 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 be- 

 comes 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, continuing an endless series of 

 production and decay, of restoration and of change. 

 All these larvae which I have observed in the colder 

 portions of our year, were hard, stiff, and torpid, 



