IrPW 



Gooseberry Grub. 



those near the lower part of the stem, which are their most 

 favourite resort ; and as soon as he sees a small perforation, 

 at first scarcely bigger than a pin's head, let him diligently 

 examine the tree, and carefully remove every infected leaf. No 

 labour will be better repaid than this. I have usually turned 

 in a troop of little boys, who can easily insinuate their fingers 

 amongst the branches ; and, with a little practice, they become 

 expert in plucking the egg-bearing leaves, for which they are 

 paid at a certain rate per hundred ; collecting them in a bas- 

 ket, the contents of which should be burnt or scalded, so as 

 to prevent the escape of a single grub. Another remedy might 

 be resorted to in gardens much infected with this nuisance ; 

 namely, taking the trees carefully up, and transplanting them 

 in new ground very early in the spring ; and then soaking the 

 holes from which they were taken with quicklime and scald- 

 ing water ; though, such is the impenetrable case of the cocoon 

 in which the chrysalis is enshrined, that I have my doubts 

 whether this precaution, however severe, will in all cases 

 answer. It might be supposed that, by carefully examining 

 the soil, great numbers might be taken : but this is not the 

 case ; for, whether from a glutinous quality in the external shell 

 of the cocoon, or other cause, I know not, minute particles of 

 earth adhere to it in so singular a manner, that I found it 

 almost impossible to discover a single individual in the earth 

 of a small flower-pot, in which, to my 

 certain knowledge, a considerable num- 

 ber had buried themselves; and from 

 which, in fact, after I had searched in 

 vain, when their hour of release was at 

 hand, they emerged in full force. I 

 have made a drawing of the insect : one 

 with its wings spread ; the other, as it 

 usually rests when alighting on a leaf. 

 (Jig. 43.) The dark spot upon the 

 upper wing is an infallible mark where- 

 by to distinguish them from some 

 other small ichneumon flies resembling 

 them, at least not easily distinguished 

 by persons who are not naturalists. 

 The under side of the leaf is given for 

 the purpose of showing the mode in 

 which the eggs are arranged like neck- 

 laces of small pellucid beads. The 

 Linnean name of the insect is the 7en- 

 (See Tmion^ s Linncetis, vol. iii. p. 418.) 

 I am. Sir, &c. 

 Feb. 6. ISSO. E. S. 



thredo capreae. 



