INTEODUCTIOX. 
76 
some of the parishes*. Tlie caterpillar of the 
Gamma-moth is common in all parts of the country, 
and as it feeds indiscriminately on a great variety 
of vegetables, it probably produces more damage 
than most of the indigenous species. The Imra 
of Charreas Graminis has sometimes done much 
mischief to the pastures in the south of Scotland 
and northern parts of England, but it is happily of 
rather rare occurrence in the south. In the conti- 
nental countries of Europe, the ravages of some of 
the caterpillars just mentioned are sometimes carried 
to an extent of which our own cormtrj', probably 
from its insular situation, affords no example. On 
one occasion those of the Gamma-moth overran 
great part of France, devouring almost every thing 
green, -with the fortunate exception of the different 
kinds of com. The peasantry of Alsace suffered so 
severely that they went to their priests and entreated 
them to try the effect of religious processions in 
ridding them of the plague ; and the people of Paris, 
under the idea that the creatures were poisonous, 
ceased for a time to use any kind of vegetable for 
food. Unhappily no effectual means of easy appli- 
cation has yet been found to guard vegetables from 
their attacks or speedily to diminish their numbers. 
Eeaiunur suggests that in times of scarcity they 
might be used as an article of food ! 
Of these caterpillars some are solitary during their 
whole life, appearing to hold no intercourse whatever 
* Hist, of Brown-tail-moth, by tV. Curtis, London 1782. 
