200 The Grass or Antler Moth. By James Hardy. 



The caterpillars again became numerically mischievous in 

 1812, 1824, and 1826, on the heights bordering Dumfriesshire. 

 Mr Swinton (Insect Variety) supposes they have a quinary cycle 

 of excessive multiplication. In 1821 (Mr Swinton, but probably 

 later) the moths produced by the caterpillars swarmed at Meldon 

 Park, near Morpeth. The extensive fields in that quarter lie 

 still at the present time in old rough grass, culture being aban- 

 doned as unprofitable, and are well adapted for supplying the 

 caterpillars with food in ample abundance. In 1824 the cater- 

 pillars destroyed the herbage of a large section of the level part 

 of Skiddaw, at least for fifty acres. Great nights of rooks resorted 

 thither to feed on them, but effected little diminution of the 

 superabundant swarms. Subsequently, however, a much finer 

 herbage occupied the ground over which they had passed, similar 

 to the finer grasses that renovate the benty hill pastures after 

 they are periodically burnt. The late Mr George Wailes, who 

 made the observations, was almost the only English entomologist 

 who had studied the habits of the moths at that period. (Ento- 

 mological Magazine, i., p. 200.) There is an account of the moth 

 and its activity in Bohemia in 1835 in Kollar's Insects Injurious 

 to Gardeners, 8fc, which has been translated into English. Mr 

 Curtis, in Morton's Cyclopcedia of Agriculture, very briefly notices 

 the insect under the name of Episema Oraminis. 



Writing in November 1834, of the parish of Eoberton, Mr 

 Andrew Hogg makes the statement : "A certain grub has of 

 late years done considerable damage both to crops and pasture 

 in this neighbourhood. As an instance, it may be noticed that 

 about ten acres of pasture were destroyed by it upon the farm of 

 Todshawhaugh. This pasture first lost its verdure, and then 

 became quite brown. On pulliDg up a handful of the withered 

 grass or moss, a number of these insects were seen. They were 

 of a dirty whitish colour, of the shape of the common caterpillar, 

 but rather thicker and shorter. The crows at last discovered 

 them, and made great havoc among them, literally pulling up 

 every stem of grass in order to reach them. Latterly the appear- 

 ance of the ground was almost that of ploughed land covered 

 with withered grass," (New Stat. Acct. Koxburghshire, p. 89). 

 It is at least doubtful whether these were the caterpillars of 

 Charaas Graminis, or of a species of Agrotis. 



The moth is accounted a scarce insect in the south of England. 

 It may be found in autumn on the flowers of ragworts and 



