30 
PART 111.- NATURAL HISTORY. 
ORIGIXAL COMMUXICATTOX8. 
Article I .—circumstances connected nith the Aaiu- 
ral History of the Goat Moth. By Edward AIurpiiy, 
Esq, Agent to the Horticultural and iVrboriciiltural So¬ 
cieties of Ireland. 
Gentlemen, 
I.v an excuri^lon winch 1 made some time since to the far- 
famed Dargle and V\ aterfall in the county of WickloM', my attention 
was arrested by observing tlie devastation committed by the Gater- 
})illars of the (ioat Moth, (Ccssns Lignipordoy) on some trees in 
the vicinity of the latter place; and although 1 cannot hoj)e to afford 
much information on a subject to which 1 have devoted veiy little 
attention, yet being desirous to promote by every means within my 
power, the success of an undertaking, which 1 earnestly hope will 
prove an invaluable boon to the rising generation of gardtmers in this 
country, and being aware that the prudent caution, which persons 
really competent, usually observe towards an infant Work, cannot 
fail to embarrass its C,^onductors, 1 take the liberty of presenting you 
with the few following observations, and at the same time’ hoping 
that a ])ressure of more valuable matter may enable you to exclude so 
crude an essay. 
'riie accompanying outline (3) will enable those who have not seen 
this beautiful insect, to form an idea of its dimensions; the thorax, or 
anteiior part of the body is of a rich brown colour; the abdomen is 
greyish; the first ])air of wings are of a jmrple and rkldish hro%l'n, 
clouded with yellowish grey, and are larger than the under'wirtgs, 
\vhich are of a brown It is beautifully figured in the second 
volume of Curtis’s BriM<W Entomolog)', (plate (>0,) a work which 
should be in the hands of every person engaged in the study of Ento¬ 
mology’. A figure ot it is also given in Vol, IV of Donovan’s British 
Insects. This Moth was ranked amongst the Phalccna of Linneus, 
aad terms one ot the tribe of Bambycidee of modem Entomological 
^^Vjterv; it ie-w’ell known as having been the subject of the celebrated 
Ij^’onrfett’s researche.s, whose minute investigations of its economy, and 
iVliistrations ot the ajiatomy of the larva, have immortalized 
and aix* a credit t6 the pictorial art. 
TheTAtterpillnt^iire prodUeed^ fw»m eggs, (lejK>sited by the female 
Moth,^ iw thtDcwa Icefi in the lHn’k'^<»t'‘^s«ch trees hs she knows are fit 
for ihe^'/uppdft of her offspring; of thee a eggs it is said she dt*posits 
