PLATE DLV. 41 



pamphlet is now become fcarce : we fortunately poffefs it, and feeling 

 perfuaded the information it conveys muft prove acceptable to the 

 reader, iliall not neglect to introduce the moft material paffages for 

 their perufal. 



It will be within the recollection of many, that in the year 1782 

 the inhabitants of London and its vicinity were thrown into the utmoft 

 confternation by the appearance of a phaenomenon far from ufual in 

 the northern regions of the earth; a hoft of infects, in numbers like 

 the locufts of the deferts, were obferved at once to pervade the whole 

 face of vegetation and defpoil the herbage in many places for miles 

 of every trace of verdure: — thefe were no other than the larvae of an 

 infignificant Moth, the fubjecr, of our prefent Plate. 



The ravages committed by this infect were affuredly lefs consider- 

 able than the vulgar were inclined to believe: true to their natural 

 inftinSt, fome particular vegetables were preferred to others, and thefe 

 they devoured with impunity, while others were only partially attacked, 

 as though eaten with reluctance in the general fcarcity of their natural 

 food ; and again, others being ftill lefs palatable, entirely efcaped their 

 devastation. The afpect of vegetation was nevertheless fuch as might 

 justly create alarm : plants, hedges, nay, whole plantations of fruit- 

 trees, as well as trees of the foreft, ftiared in the general havoc, pre- 

 fenting their leaders branches in the midft of fumroer, as though 

 ftricken and deftroyed by the blaits of winter. An appearance fo ex- 

 traordinary was calculated to create terror: it was naturally inter- 

 preted as a vifitation from heaven ordained to deftroy all the fources 

 of vegetable life, to deprive men and cattle of their moft effential food, 

 and finally leave them a prey to famine. — Such were the vulgar fears; 

 but thanks to Providence, the deftroying powers of thefe creatures 

 were reftricted by their inftincts ; their attacks were principally directed 

 againft the oak, the elm, the hawthorn, and fruit-trees : the fodder 

 for the cattle and the harveft for mankind remained untouched, 

 The appearance of fuch a hoft of little depredators feems, however, 

 to have afforded a feafonable admonition,, evincing to an unthinking 



yol. xvi. G multitude 



