134 Timehri. 
considered as fungoid but possibly there may be insect pests as primary causes. 
The beautiful owl butterflies (Caligo) and at least one of those moths which have 
the pretty moss-like larvee, Hyperchiria liberia, have been found «n the banana. 
As they can be seen and picked off they are not so dangerous as the Castnia, which 
we have already mentioned as a possible pest. Pumpkins and cucumbers have 
their stem borer, Melittia, which can easily become very dangerous if it increases 
in number. The pests on fruit trees are not as a rule virulent but the Anonas or 
Custard apple family are subject to the ruthless attacks of the hawk-moth, 
Protoparce rustica. We have already mentioned the Papilios on Citrus ; the 
mango and bread-fruit are only attacked by the hairy worm (Megalopyge) and 
the bag-worm (Oiketicus). I have seen a guava tree entirely denuded by a 
fire-tail skipper. 
Possibly the most virulent pest in our gardens is the lily worm Xanthopastis 
timais, which wrecks the finest bed of Eucharis or Hippeastrum in a night ; as 
far as we are ware it only eats Amaryllidacee, for the only true lily, Gloriosa 
superba, has always been left untouched in my garden. The skipper butterflies 
often make havoc of our Cannas and Marantas but they do not touch the gingers, 
Zingiberacee Only the more delicate ferns are attacked by cut-worms, Plusia 
verruca and Eriopus floridensis; when these get among the maidenhairs the 
beauty of the ferns is soon wrecked. I believe these pests are more generally 
feeders on grasses. Nothing appears to touch the Selaginellas. 
One of our most desirable street trees is the fiddle-wood, but unfortunately 
it is almost always unsightly from the attacks of the moth, Pyrausta mellinalis. 
Rarely however is the tree actually killed even when denuded of every leaf. 
I have made out a list of the natural orders of plants with their pests, and it is 
notable that no one is entirely immune. The acrid poisonous secretions appear 
to have little if any effect, for even the moka-moka (Montrichardia arborescens) 
is fed upon by a butterfly (Helicopis cupido) and a moth (Eepantheria eridanus). 
The fiery secretions of the ginger family however, and the strong essential oils 
of the Labiat appear to be deterrent for hardly any insect is found on their !eaves. 
A pretty green moth (Aplodes frondaria) feeds upon the flowers of Hyptis as well 
as those of some others as Clibadium and Kupatorium of the Composite order. 
This moth is one of the Geometers, several of which feed on buds and flowers. 
From the evidence we may safely conclude that butterflies and moths know 
the plants on which their young will have to feed. They do not go blindly to 
work although they sometimes make mistakes as in a case where a clutch of eggs 
was laid on a man’s hat when he was wearing it. They seem to know not alone 
a single species but its allies as well and in some cases confirm our classification. 
The more dain‘y keep to a particular species or genus, others range over a natural 
order or even a great class. Few however step o er the bounds from exogen 
to endocen or vice versa but there are such exceptions. The mo.e specialised 
butterflies do not feed on poisonous plants, but the higher moths revel in them. 
Certain families are more varied in their tastes and assimilate quite a large number 
of diverse species of plants not always closely allied. These are mostly to be 
feared, being possibly often led to make trial as it were of anew plant, perhaps 
