462 A DESCRIPTION OF 
THE COCK-CHAFER. (Melolontha vulgaris.) 
THE Cockchafer is one of the lamellicorn beetles. The 
female lays her eggs in the ground, and the grubs when 
hatched are soft, thick, and whitish. It is from its white 
appearance that the grub of the Cockchafer is called lever 
blanc by the French. These grubs, sometimes in immense 
numbers, work between the turf and the soil in the richest 
meadows, devouring the roots of the grass to such a degree 
that the turf rises, and will roll up with almost as much 
ease as if it had been cut with a turfing knife : and un- 
derneath, the soil appears turned into a soft mould, for 
more than an inch in depth, like the bed of a garden. 
In this, the grubs lie, on their backs, in a curved position, 
the head and tail uppermost, and the rest of the body 
buried in the mould. It is also said that a whole field of 
fine flourishing grass has become, in a few weeks, with- 
ered, dry, and as brittle as hay, by these grubs devouring 
the roots. 
In the year 1688, great numbers of Cockchafers ap- 
peared on the hedges and trees of the south-west coast of 
the county of Galway, in clusters of thousands, clinging to 
each others' backs, in the manner of bees when they 
swarm. During the day they continued quiet, but to- 
wards sunset, the whole were in motion ; and the hum- 
ming noise of their wings sounded like distant drums. 
Their numbers were so great, that, for the space of two 
or three square miles, they entirely darkened the air. 
