80 THE BROWN TAIL MOTH. 
were observed at once to pervade the whole face of 
vegetation, and despoil the herbage in many places 
for miles, of every trace of verdure. These were no 
other than the larvee of an insignificant moth, the 
subject of our present plate. 
The ravages committed by this insect were 
assuredly less considerable than the vulgar were 
inclined to believe. True to their natural instinct, 
some particular vegetables were preferred to others, 
and these they devoured with impunity, while 
others were only partially attacked, as though 
eaten with reluctance in the general scarcity of 
their natural food ; and again, others being still less 
palatable, entirely escaped their devastations. The 
aspect of vegetation was nevertheless such as might 
justly create alarm: plants, hedges, nay, whole 
plantations of fruit-trees, as well as trees of the 
forest, shared in the general havoe, presenting their 
leafless branches in the midst of summer, as though 
stricken and destroyed by the blasts of winter. An 
appearance so extraordinary was calculated to create 
terror: it was naturally interpreted as a visita- 
tion from heaven, ordained to destroy all the sources 
of vegetable life, to deprive men and cattle of their 
most essential food, and finally leave them a prey 
tofamine. Such were the vulgar fears ; but, thanks 
to Providence, the destroying powers of these crea- 
tures were restricted to their instincts ; their at- 
tacks were principally directed against the oak, the 
