THE BROWN TAIL MOTH. 81 
hawthorn, the elm, and fruit-trees ; the fodder for 
the cattle, and the harvest for mankind, remained 
untouched. The appearance of such a host of little 
depredators, seems, however, to have afforded a 
seasonable admonition, evincing to an unthinking 
multitude, how easy the comforts, nay, even the 
existence of man, may he assailed by a creature so 
insignificant, had not the limits of its ravages been 
prescribed by Him “ who wills, and is obeyed ;”’— 
its intrusions certainly created alarm, but did little 
serious injury. 
This is no exaggerated picture of the public mind 
on the occasion to which we refer; its alarm was 
so powerful, and prevailed to such an extent, that 
prayers were publicly offered up in the churches to 
avert the calamity it was supposed they were in- 
tended to produce. The webs containing the larvee 
were collected in many places about the metro- 
polis by order of the parish officers, who allowed a 
certain prize to the poor for gathering them, and 
superintended the burning of them in large heaps 
with coal and fagots. At this precise period the 
tract by Mr Curtis, as above related, appeared. 
In this memoir the history, manners, and propen- 
sities of this little creature were explained, and the 
information it afforded must have undoubtedly con- 
tributed in an essential manner to calm the terror 
before excited. Its publication was useful in an- 
other point of view; for by its means the pursuits 
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