20 CORN AND GRASS. 



The following uotes by Mr. Robert Service, of Maxwelltown, Dum- 

 fries, a very well-qualified local observer, appeared in the ' Dumfries 

 Courier and Herald ' July 7th, 1894, and will be found to contain much 

 information, useful practically, as well as of entomological interest : — * 



"The 'Hill-grub.' — Sheep-farmers are threatened with another 

 plague, which will in all probability come upon them in full force next 

 summer, should certain conditions prevail till then. For this year the 

 danger seems to be almost past. The ' hill-grub ' has often done 

 considerable damage to the upland grass-lands, notably in the years 

 from 1830 to 1835. Just now complaints are rife from farms in many 

 parts of the wide district lately ravaged by the Voles. As usual, the 

 farmers look on these * hill-grubs ' as very sudden arrivals, but this is 

 not the case, for last autumn the moths which these larvna produce 

 were in extraordinary swarms, and far in advance of their normal 

 numbers. I remember noting how unusually abundant these Antler 

 Moths were flying at the end of last September when coming down 

 from the neighbourhood of Loch Dungeon one evening in the twilight. 

 The grubs form a regular pabulum for the Rooks at this season, when 

 these birds betake themselves and young broods to the hills. That 

 they are finding this food in great quantities is evident from the way 

 the Rooks are concentrated at particular spots, where the grass-tufts 

 are being torn up in all directions. The other day I received a boxful 

 of these ' hill-grubs,' that had been sent for identification from Ben- 

 inner, in Carsphairn, where they are doing much damage. A party of 

 gentlemen fishing from near the Holm of Dalquhairn for some five or 

 six miles down the Ken found all the trout they caught perfectly 

 crammed with these caterpillars. Old shepherds will tell of times 

 when the ' hill-grubs ' were so numerous that after sudden thunder- 

 showers the sheep-drains have been completely dammed up with their 

 bodies. It should be noted that the perfect insect is known as the 

 Antler Moth [CharcEas uraminis), and it flies during August and 

 September. It then deposits its eggs, which produce larvae that 

 descend to and feed mostly about the roots of grasses during the 

 autumn and early winter. After hybernation they commence in 

 March and April to feed again with redoubled energy, and they turn 

 to pupffi at end of June and during July, producing the moths again 

 in a few weeks. Thus their cycle of existence in these various stages 

 extends the whole year round. Their worst natural enemy is the 

 Common Rook, and I have reason to believe that Curlews and Plovers 



* These observations form part of a series published by the writer under the 

 geographical nom de plume of " MabieMoss," this (sometime) moss district having 

 been long under the observation of Mr. E. Service ; but in giving these, with some 

 other contribution that Mr. Service was good enough to send me, I believe I am 

 permitted to give the full name, 



