IX PESTS 163 



pince-nez being best, for both hands will be re- 

 quired. Where a tiny heap of dust is seen upon 

 the bud, the egg has been hatched, and the 

 destroyer is within. I have found the point of an 

 ordinary quill toothpick the most efficacious in- 

 strument for dislodging the intruder ; it is quite 

 sharp enough, and a pin is too rigid. Do not be 

 afraid to probe right to the bottom of the bud till 

 you have found and got out the tiny invader : for 

 the main bud is already spoilt, and your hopes are 

 shifted to the supernumerary side buds, which are 

 always in existence and dormant, invisible. Having 

 got out the grub, no harm will have been done, for 

 you should have two shoots instead of one, the grub 

 having forced you to the operation of " staving," as 

 on p. 149. 



Next in point of time, and continuing much later, 

 is another moth larva, of the same group (Tortricina), 

 and with the same sort of manners and customs. 

 This is a dark green grub with a black head, and 

 not so plump in body. It folds the leaves together 

 in the same way, and generally acts in the same 

 obnoxious manner ; but it is more active, and has 

 the power of running backwards as quickly as 

 forwards, so that it will often escape and fall to 

 the ground, where it lies quite still and is not easily 

 found. 



We shall now begin to find those larvse of moths 

 which are more generally called caterpillars. Most 

 of these belong to the group of loopers, or geo- 

 meters, i.e. earth measures, so called because the 

 middle of the body, where there are no legs, is 

 constantly being raised in a loop as the creature 

 progresses. 



M 2 



