DAMAGE CAUSED BY ANIMALS. 203 



moth, as, for instance, standard Oaks of all descriptions, and trees 

 near the edges of compartments. When total denudation of the 

 foliage takes place repeatedly, so that not infrequently the mid- 

 summer flush of leaves is destroyed as well as the spring foliage, 

 the results are often not merely confined to temporary loss of incre- 

 ment, but may induce a sickly condition of growth, with " stag- 

 headedness," and may ultimately lead directly to the death of 

 the tree. 



But another danger is threatened by the long, brittle hairs, 

 which contain some substance poisonous to both man and beast, 

 and produce swellings and inflammation where they happen to be 

 brought in contact with the skin. When old Oaks growing on 

 grazing land are attacked by the caterpillars, the hairs of the 

 latter are often swallowed by the cattle when feeding, and may 

 occasion them a good deal of suffering. 



Protected by these long, poisonous hairs, the caterpillar has few 

 natural enemies beyond the Cuckoo, and a few Tachinaz and 

 Ichneumonidse ; but, on the other hand, the ova are well-nigh deci- 

 mated during the winter by tomtits, woodpeckers, &c. 



The best annihilative measure that can be adopted against this 

 insect consists in the removal and crushing or burning of the 

 nests containing the caterpillars and chrysalides ; when these 

 latter are high up the stem, ladders will either be necessary, or 

 else a pole with a nob of tow dipped in petroleum, and then 

 lighted so as to set fire to the nest. For nests that are too high 

 up for this method to be successful, Altum recommends the use 

 of the gun with a large charge of very small shot and a small 

 charge of gunpowder, so as to knock the nest to pieces. 



Whether the caterpillars be collected first or directly destroyed, 

 the greatest caution should be taken to ensure that the woodmen 

 should not have their health injured in any way by the poisonous 

 hairs. Thick gloves, and an adequate protection, as, for instance, 

 a damp sponge over both mouth and nostrils, are necessary ; and 

 if the exterminative measures can take place during wet weather, 

 so much the better, as the hairs are not only less brittle then, but 

 are also less apt to float about in the air. 



In areas infested for the time being by these caterpillars, the 

 woods should, for obvious reasons, be closed to the collection of 

 berries, the cutting of grass, and the herding of cattle. 



