32 
Natural History of the Goat Moth 
trees being more porous tlian those growing on high and dry ground, 
offers less opposition to its progi’ess; be that as it may, the fact of their 
predeliction is certain, ten trees growing in low moist situations being 
infected for one in a situation of an opposite nature. 
The accompanying sketch (5) is from a piece of alder in my [)Ossession, 
it was one of many trees of the same kind, which, in consequence of the 
innumerable perforations, 5 
were not enabled to resist 
even a moderate blast, and 
were blown down. The 
circumstances which I have 
hitherto detailed, are so 
generally known, that I do 
not think I should have 
troubled you with a recital, 
of them, were it not for the 
purpose of affording myself 
an opportunity of mention¬ 
ing a few others, which, 
though they appear extreme¬ 
ly hypothetical, are never¬ 
theless, deserving of attention. 
It is a generally received opinion amongst the country people here 
that the larva of this insect, if not the sole, is at least the principal cause 
of the disease amongst cattle known by the name of “Murrain.” They 
assert that it is with the utmost difficulty they can prevent their cows 
from haunting the trees in which the worms exist ; that they not only 
lick these trees, but endeavour to get at the worms by tearing the bark 
with their t eeth, and that having got possession of one they greedily de¬ 
vour it, and an attack of the Murrain is then inevitable. These people 
are so firmly persuaded of the evil effects of the “ Murrain worm” that 
they do not suffer cattle to enter fields, the trees in which are infected, 
until they have first prevented the possibility of danger, by forming an 
impenetrable fence of thorns around the infected trees. 
I have already expressed my doubts as to these alledged facts, and 
only mention them for the purpose of exciting enquiry. I hope it is not 
too much to expect that your neighbour, Mr. Major, by whose industry 
we are put in possession of all that is known respecting the insect ene¬ 
mies of the garden, will, through the medium of the Horticultural Register, 
assist us in our enquiries concerning the no less important Dendrophagi. 
I am. Gentlemen, 
Yours, &c. 
Dublin, May 2ist, 1831. Edward Murphy. 
Note.—W e shall feel happy at all times, to have Mr. Slajor’s valuable 
assistance.- Conductors. 
