THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 
about the mouth and on the sides of the lobes. Medio-dorsal 
stripe dull, dark green; it is narrow from the 6th to the anal 
segment, but takes the form of a gradually-widening broad 
stripe from the 2nd to the 8th, where it is widest; it is inter- 
sected in the centre of the 2nd and 3rd with a five purplish 
line; subdorsal lines of the same colour as, but fainter than, 
the medio-dorsal, and bordered outside with a pale yellow 
stripe; there are no perceptible spiracular lines. The hump 
on the 12th segment is dark purplish brown, and a number 
of black horny spots form a sort of collar round the 2nd 
segment, just behind the head; segmental divisions yellow; 
trapezoidal dots on the anterior segments—on the broad part 
of the medio-dorsal stripe—very black and distinct, but not 
noticeable on the others; spiracles large and distinct, pinkish, 
surrounded with black; ventral surface yellowish green, 
without markings; legs and claspers pinkish brown. Rests 
with the front and anal segments raised and thrown back- 
wards,—the usual Notodonta attitude.—Geo. 7. Porritt ; 
Huddersfield. 
Explanation of the Phylloxera Plague.—In a paper read 
before the Paris Société d’Acclimatation, Dr. Turrel suggests 
that the rapid spread of the Phylloxera Vastatrix in France 
is due to the scarcity of small birds in that country. Forty 
years ago, he says, linnets, tits, &c., were numerous in Pro- 
vence, and in the autumn they could be seen posted on the 
vine branches, carrying on a vigorous search after the insects, 
and larvee and eggs of insects, concealed in the cracks of the 
stem and leaves of the plant. Since the commencement of 
the present century, however, it is easy to perceive that the 
destruction of small birds has been carried on more and 
more generally; and that, concurrently with this war of 
extermination against the feathered tribes, the numbers of 
destructive insects have increased at an alarming rate. Dr. 
Turrel thinks that, though it cannot be absolutely maintained, 
that the oidium and the Phylloxera,—the two latest forms of 
vine disease (the one a vegetable, the other an insect parasite), 
—owe their frightful extension to the scarcity of small birds; 
yet it is unquestionable that a plant like the vine, weakened 
by the attacks of insects, is less in a condition to withstand 
the ravages of parasites; and that, deprived of its feathered 
protectors, and left to the successive and unchecked onslaught 
I 
