36 Insects and Worms. 



caterpillar, and maggot, with the remarkable exception of 

 the caterpillar moth of the magpie (Abraxas Grossularia), 

 which no bird will touch." M. Reaumur mentions the 

 circumstance of a quantity of wheat stored in a corn-loft 

 being much infected with the caterpillars of the small corn- 

 moth, which spins a web and unites several grains together. 

 A young lady devised the plan of taking some chickens to 

 the loft to feed on the caterpillars, of which they were so 

 fond that in a few days they devoured them all, without 

 touching a single grain of the corn. Mr. Dickson observes, 

 that "biscuit-dust from ships' stores, which consists of 

 biscuit mouldered into meal, mixed with fragments still 

 unbroken, would be an excellent food for poultry, if soaked 

 in boiling water and given them hot. It is thus used for 

 feeding pigs near the larger seaports, where it can some- 

 times be had in considerable quantity, and at a very 

 reasonable price. It will be no detriment to this material 

 if it be full of weevils and their grubs, of which fowls are 

 fonder than of the biscuit itself." 



There is not any food of which poultry generally are so 

 fond as of earthworms ; but all fowls are not equally fond 

 of them, and some will not touch them. They will not eat 

 dead worms. Too many ought not to be given, or they 

 will become too fat and cease laying. When fowls are 

 intended for the table worms should not be given, as they 

 are said always more or less to deteriorate the flavour of 

 the flesh. A good supply may easily be obtained. By 

 stamping hard upon the ground, as anglers do, worms will 

 rise to the surface; but a better method is to thrust a 

 strong stake or a three-pronged potato-fork into the ground, 

 to the depth of a foot or so, and jerk it backwards and 

 forwards, so as to shake the soil all around. By going out 

 with a light at night in calm, mild weather, particularly 

 when there is dew, or after rain, a cautious observer will 

 see large numbers of worms lying on the ground, gravel- 

 walks, grass-plots or pastures ; but they are easily frightened 

 into their holes, though with caution and dexterity a great 

 number, and those chiefly of the largest size, may be cap- 

 tured. Mr. Dickson advises that cottagers' children should 



