1838.. HOUSE—No. 72. 67 
gathered 80 bushels of the beetles. In the year 1785 many pro- 
vinces in France were so ravaged by them, that a premium was of- 
fered by government for the best mode of destroying them. The 
Society of Arts in London, during many years, held forth a premium 
for the best account of this insect, and the means of checking its rav- 
ages, but without having produced one successful claimant. In their 
perfect state, these, with several other species, act as conspicuous a 
part in injuring the trees, as the grubs do in destroying the herbage. 
Besides the leaves of fruit trees, they devour those of various forest- 
trees and shrubs, with an avidity not much less than that of the locust, 
so that, in certain seasons, and in particular districts, they become an 
oppressive scourge, and the source of much misery to the inhabitants. 
Mouffet relates that, in the year 1574, such a number of them fell 
into the river Severn, as to stop the wheels of the water-mills ; and, 
in the Philosophical Transactions, it is stated, that in the year 1688 
they filled the hedges and trees of Galway, in such infinite numbers 
as to cling to each other like bees when swarming ; and, when on the 
wing, darkened the air, annoyed travellers, and produced a sound like 
distant drums. In a short time, the leaves of all the trees, for some 
miles round, were so totally consumed by them, that at midsummer 
the country wore the aspect of the depth of winter. 
Another chafter, Melolontha vitis. F. is sometimes exceedingly 
injurious to the vine. It prevails in certain provinces of France, 
where it strips the vines of their leaves, and also devours those of the 
willow, poplar and fruit trees. The animals and birds appointed to 
check the ravages of these insects, are, according to Latreille, the 
badger, weasel, martin, bats, rats, the common dung-hill fowl, and 
the goat-sucker or night-hawk. To this list may be added the com- 
mon crow, which devours not only the perfect insects, but their 
larve, for which purpose it is often observed to follow the plough. 
In ** Anderson’s Recreations,” it is stated that ‘‘ a cautious observer, 
having found a nest of five young jays, remarked, that each of these 
birds, while yet very young, consumed at least 15 of these full sized 
grubs in one day, and of course would require many more of a small- 
er size. Say that, on an average of sizes, they consumed 20 a piece, 
these for the 5 make 100. ach of the parents consume say 50; so 
that the pair and family devour 200 every day. Thisin 3 months, 
