THE BROWN TAIL MOTH. 81 



hawthorn, the elm,, and fruit-trees ; the fodder for 

 the cattle, and the harvest for mankind, remained 

 untouched. The appearance of such a host of little 

 depredators, seems, however, to have afforded a 

 seasonable admonition, evincing to an unthinking 

 multitude, how easy the comforts, nay, even the 

 existence of man, may be assailed by a creature so 

 insignificant, had not the limits of its ravages been 

 prescribed by HIM ff who wills, and is obeyed ;" 

 its intrusions certainly created alarm, but did little 

 serious injury. 



This is no exaggerated picture of the public mind 

 on the occasion to which we refer ; its alarm was 

 so powerful, and prevailed to such an extent, that 

 prayers were publicly offered up in the churches to 

 avert the calamity it was supposed they were in- 

 tended to produce. The webs containing the larvae 

 were collected in many places about the metro- 

 polis by order of the parish officers, who allowed a 

 certain prize to the poor for gathering them, and 

 superintended the burning of them in large heaps 

 with coal and fagots. At this precise period the 

 tract by Mr Curtis, as above related, appeared. 

 In this memoir the history, manners, and propen- 

 sities of this little creature were explained, and the 

 information it afforded must have undoubtedly con- 

 tributed in an essential manner to calm the terror 

 before excited. Its publication was useful in an- 

 other point of view; for by its means the pursuits 



