COOKCHAFFERS. 328 



May 24, 1827. Abundance of cockchaffers (me- 

 lolantha vulgaris) are flying about, yet by no means 

 in the profusion of some years. How much at times 

 the interests of man and the wild creatures about 

 him are at variance ! Those that are domesticated 

 and precluded from obtaining food but by his per- 

 mission, have their welfare in part identified with 

 his they may share in his abundance, or pine from 

 his parsimony ; but the independents of the field 

 are differently circumstanced. The appearance of 

 these chaffers, in any numbers, is very uncertain and 

 partial, but in those summers when they abound, 

 very extensive injuries frequently ensue. In the 

 grub state, they will entirely destroy the pastures 

 where they inhabit, by consuming the roots of the 

 grasses ; acres and fields are deprived of their pro- 

 duce, becoming brown as stubbles, with only a sprig 

 or tuft of green useless vegetation observable in 

 them ; the grain crop likewise totally fails when 

 the larvae of this chaffer feeds in the field. Upon 

 assuming their winged state, they devour the foliage 

 of the oak and other trees so effectually, that entire 

 copses may be seen early in June defoliated by their 

 depredations. So much for their injury to man : 

 but now the feast of the wilding commences the 

 plough in April dislodges multitudes of these long 

 white grubs. Dogs then seek them eagerly to eat, 

 but they seem to be surfeited by the food; for, 

 though fattened at first, they afterwards become 



Y 2 



