35 



How this wretched insect underwent its transformation, while so full of these destroying animals, 

 is to me very extraordinary. 



Expansion of the wings 3 — 3J inches. 



" In breaking up the decayed pollards," observes the author of the Journal of a 

 Naturalist, " we not unusually find the grub of the Goat Moth in all the stages of its 

 growth ; but more generally observe them without inhabitants, yet perforated with 

 paths large enough to admit the finger. I suspect that these auger-worms are the 

 primary cause of the decay of the tree, having often observed their perforations, and 

 found them, both large and small, in the solid spur or root of the tree, when the 

 tipper portion — having been bored and in a state of decline — is abandoned by them. 

 Those that are full-fed appear to form their cases in that part which has lost cohe- 

 rency ; while the younger and unperfected creatures mine their way and obtain nutri- 

 ment in the solid timber ; thus killing the tree by inches, when rain and moisture 

 find lodgment, and complete the dissolution. One years preparation is the period 

 usually assigned to the larva of most insects, before they arrive at their perfect state ; 

 but by the Goat Moth three years are required before it attains its winged state from 

 the egg : consequently, for the larger portion of its life it is occupied in these de- 

 structive operations, and thus this creature becomes a very powerful agent in reducing 

 these Titans of the vegetable world — crumbling them away to their original dust : 

 for what was decreed the termination and punishment of man, is found in active ope- 

 ration throughout the whole chain of nature's works, which are but dust, and unto 

 dust return ; continuing an endless series of production and decay — of restoration 

 and of change. All these larvae which I have observed in the colder portions of our 

 year are hard, stiff, and torpid, but soon become relaxed and animated by the warmth 

 of the hand ; thus they probably remain quiet during the winter months, but revive 

 in spring, and recommence their ravages in the tree. The caterpillar of this moth I 

 believe to be the largest of any of those of the British Lepidoptera, and when full fed 

 exceeds in size that of the Death's-head Sphinx." The disgusting appearance of the 

 larva, arising from its large size, naked body, and raw fleshy colour, united with the 

 emission of an unpleasant scent, (whence its name of the Goat Moth) renders this 

 creature by no means a favourite ; although it has afforded to a Dutch naturalist, 

 Lyonnet, the materials for one of the most elaborate anatomical treatises ever 

 published. 



The female lays but one course of eggs, but these generally amount to 1000 in 

 number, and are always deposited at the base of the trees, whence the caterpillars 

 penetrate the bark wherever they can find the easiest entrance : the eggs are small in 

 proportion to the size of the imago. The smell of the larva is so strong as to be easily 

 perceived by persons passing near trees infested with it. The green wood-pecker 

 feeds upon these caterpillars, and its stomach, on dissection, has an intolerable stench. 

 In addition to the willow and oak, the Cossus feeds on the wood of the elm, alder, 

 ash, walnut, beech, lime, and poplar. Many remedies have been proposed, but that 

 of Latreille appears to be the most approved of in France. — This consists in sur- 

 rounding the base of the tree, where it has been observed that the females always 

 deposit their eggs, with a thick coating of a mixture of clay and cow-dung, which the 

 insects cannot penetrate, (Loudon s Arboretum Britannicum, p. 1387.) 





