CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 265 



these caterpillars are very destructive; but they are 

 easily detected, and can be soon gathered. Still another 

 and more frequent and destructive insect, mistaken by 

 Fuller for the preceding, is called 



False Caterpillar. This caterpillar is the offspring of a 

 jet-black saw-fly named Selandria vitis, which rises from 

 the ground at irregular intervals in the spring and early 

 summer, and lays its eggs on the under surface of the termi- 

 nal leaves of the vine. In July, these caterpillars may be 

 seen in swarms of various ages and of all sizes ; those which 

 are fully grown being about five-eighths of an inch in 

 length. The head, and tip of the tail, are black ; the body 

 being light green, with two transverse rows of minute black 

 points across each ring, the lower side of the body being 

 yellowish. They are somewhat slender and tapering be- 

 hind, thickest before the middle, and have twenty-two bgs. 

 Each swarm consists of twelve or more worms, feeding in 

 rank with surprising regularity. Commencing at the edge 

 of a leaf, a platoon in exact line, they retreat in perfect 

 order, eating every particle of the leaf except the ribs, 

 doing their work with a thoroughness, and a regard for 

 straight lines and mutual rights, that would be beautiful 

 to see, were it not so destructive to the vine. At their 

 last moulting, they become nearly yellow; when they 



