CHAPTER VII. 



VEGETABLE FOES AND DISEASES. 

 CABBAGE MOTH (Mamestra bras sic <e}. 



THE Cabbage Moth (A) is of a rich brown, the upper 

 wings with a decided tinge of grey and variously marked 

 with black streaks and circular lines ; the lower wings 

 are brown and dirty-white at the base. 



The moth lays her eggs on the leaves of Cabbages, 

 Savoys, etc., and the caterpillars hatch in a few days 

 and immediately begin to feed. At first they are usu- 

 ally green, but afterwards vary much in colour, some 

 being pale dingy green ; some green and black above, 

 but mostly of a dark colour with a kind of marbling, 

 more or less distinct on the back, the effect being 

 produced by a triangular mark containing two white 

 dots on each of their segments. When full-fed the 

 caterpillar (B) is upwards of an inch and a quarter in 

 length. On being disturbed it rolls itself into a tight 

 ring, and so remains until it supposes danger is over. 

 The caterpillars descend into the earth for change into 

 pupae or so-called chrysalids. The pupa-case (C) is 

 smooth and red-brown, and in this the pupa remains, 

 protected by earth, until the following summer, when 



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