92 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
not think the insects were to blame, because they were 
only indulging in those habits which were necessary for 
their existence. And he also considered that they were 
sent as a punishment to the vineyard men, who had not 
paid up all their tithes. Consequently, he ordered the 
Bishop to open a court, where the farmers and the insects 
were to appear by counsel. A long trial took place, 
and a commission was ordered to inquire into the truth 
of the allegations of the farmers; but of course, while 
this was being done the caterpillars had metamorphosed, 
and the mischief was completed. Many years afterwards 
the moths and caterpillars re-appeared, and then the 
farmers proposed to set apart a particular plot of ground 
for the insects, which were to be under the charge of 
the Church, and petitioned that if they did this the 
Archbishop should curse the rest, and allow all those 
out of bounds to be destroyed. The Archbishop, con¬ 
sidering that the Church gained a nice piece of ground 
by this transaction, willingly agreed to form a procession 
round the country, and to do the required cursing ; 
after which, however, the farmers were to do penance, 
and to pay up all their tithes.” 
In our own country there is, perhaps, only one highly 
destructive species, viz., the Green Tortrix ( T. viridana ) 
whose larvce in countless multitudes bare oak trees of 
their leaves in the early summer months. The larva 
and perfect insect are green. 
The Tineina is a very extensive group, the British 
species being computed by Mr. Stainton, one of our 
highest authorities on the Lepidoptera, at about Go0 in 
number, thus outnumbering any two- of the preceding 
groups. The moths are small and fragile, the most 
