80 THE BROWN TAIL MOTH. 



were observed at once to pervade the whole face of 

 vegetation, and despoil the herbage in many places 

 for miles, of every trace of verdure. These were no 

 other than the larvae of an insignificant moth, the 

 subject of our present plate. 



The ravages committed by this insect were 

 assuredly less considerable than the vulgar were 

 inclined to believe. True to their natural instinct, 

 some particular vegetables were preferred to others, 

 and these they devoured with impunity, while 

 others were only partially attacked, as though 

 eaten with reluctance in the general scarcity of 

 their natural food ; and again, others being still less 

 palatable, entirely escaped their devastations. The 

 aspect of vegetation was nevertheless such as might 

 justly create alarm : plants, hedges, nay, whole 

 plantations of fruit-trees, as well as trees of the 

 forest, shared in the general havoc, presenting their 

 leafless branches in the midst of summer, as though 

 stricken and destroyed by the blasts of winter. An 

 appearance so extraordinary was calculated to create 

 terror : it was naturally interpreted as a visita- 

 tion from heaven, ordained to destroy all the sources 

 of vegetable life, to deprive men and cattle of their 

 most essential food, and finally leave them a prey 

 to famine. Such were the vulgar fears ; but, thanks 

 to Providence, the destroying powers of these crea- 

 tures were restricted to their instincts ; their at- 

 tacks were principally directed against the oak, the 



