234 THE COCK-CHAFER. 



well known in England by the name of Cock- 

 chafer, are more voracious, and more destructive to 

 vegetation, than those of almost any of the insect 

 tribes. 



The eggs are deposited in the ground by the 

 winged insect, whose fore-legs are very short, and 

 well calculated for burrowing. From each of these 

 proceeds, after a short time, a whitish worm with 

 six legs, a red head, and strong claws, and about an 

 inch and a half long, which is destined to live in the 

 earth under that form for four years, and there un- 

 dergo various changes of its skin, until it assumes 

 its chrysalid form. It subsists, during its subterra- 

 neous abode, on the roots of trees and plants, com- 

 mitting ravages often of the most deplorable nature. 

 These creatures, sometimes in immense numbers, 

 work between the turf and the soil in the richest 

 meadows, devouring the roots of the grass to that 

 degree that the turf rises, and will roll up with al- 

 most as much ease as if it had been cut with a turf- 

 ing-spade : and underneath the soil appears turned 

 into a soft mould for about an inch in depth, like the 

 bed of a garden. In this the grubs lie, in a curved 

 position, on their backs, the head and tail up- 

 permost, and the rest of the body buried in the 

 mould. Mr. Arderon, of Norwich, mentions his 

 having seen a whole field of fine flourishing grass, 

 in the summer time, become in a few weeks 

 withered, dry, and as brittle as hay, by these 

 grubs devouring the roots, and gnawing away 

 all those fibres that fastened ■ it to the ground^ 



