366 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



Mr Stainforth Green) that no damage is caused to 

 the plant by the presence of the larvae, but Mr 

 George Nicholson in his Illustrated Dictionary of 

 Gardening staX.e.s that "this pest attacks the young 

 shoots of plants, choosing the axil of a leaf for its 

 abode, and so damaging the shoot in some cases as 

 to cause it to die or become malformed." The 

 following remedies, besides frequent syringing with 

 clear water, are recommended : — 



Tobacco Liquid. — To a gallon of water add i oz. 

 of soft soap, and when thoroughly dissolved mix a 

 tablespoonful of Corry and Soper's nicotine, well 

 syringing the plants. This is best applied luke- 

 warm, and then well washed off with clean water in 

 about an hour. 



Quassia. — Steep \ lb. quassia chips in a gallon 

 of boiling water, and when cold add about the same 

 quantity of water. This should be applied with a 

 syringe and not washed off afterwards. It renders 

 the stems of the plants nauseous, but does not injure 

 them. 



The "cuckoo spit"isconsideredbysomenaturalists 

 to be a protective device, but, according to Dr 

 Sharp, the larvee are a favourite food with certain 

 Hymenoptera, which pick them out and carry them 

 off to store them as provision for their own larvae. 

 They are devoured also by many of the smaller 

 insectivorous birds, and, as remarked by several 

 correspondents, are swallowed by young Pheasants. 

 The conclusion, however, at which one writer arrives 

 is probably erroneous. He states that several of 

 his young Pheasants have shown symptoms of a 



