54 DIRECT INJURIES FROM MOTHS. 



fruit-trees, says that a little moth is very injurious 

 to the pear-tree.* There is a moth vvhicli Linnreus 

 calls the pest of Pomona, and the destroyer of tlie 

 blossoms of the apple, pear, and cherry. Certainly 

 this most useful fruit is subject to great havoc from 

 the caterpillar of theFigure-of-Eight Moth, (Bombyar 

 ccerulocephala of Fabricius,) iin insect common to 

 Europe. 



In the years 17.31 and 17'5^, a general alami was 

 caused in France by the appearance of vast numbers 

 of the larva of a moth nearly allied to the Brown- 

 tailed }Ao\.h,{Iiombi/x j^ha'orhci'a of Fabricius.) Oaks, 

 elms, and white-thorn hedges, appeared as if blighted 

 by lightning, for their leaves were totally withered, 

 and dyed of a reddish brown colour ; the caterpillar 

 feeds on one surface of them only, and that which i.-! 

 left soon becomes seared and brown. Their attacks 

 did not end with the trees of the forest, for they 

 penetrated into the orchards, stript them of their 

 foliage, and afterwards preyed upon the fruit. So 

 universal was this scourge, that it spread general 

 consternation, and at length an edict was issued by 

 the Parliament, ordaining people to collect and 

 destroy them. But even this means had nearly 

 proved abortive, when, fortunately, a tract of cold 

 weather set in, accompanied by heavy rains, Avhich 

 BO completely extirpated them, that it was with 



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