THE NORTH SEA. 
333 
but carefully-macerated skeletons. Farmers were in 
despair at this visitation of a new and unknown scourge. 
Now earlier in the year (in June) I had received 
letters from the fishermen, whom in winter I employ 
as puntsmen, mentioning having seen “ clouds of small 
moths at sea,” while they were fishing twelve or fifteen 
miles off the coast. “Masses of them seemed at times 
to alight on the water, but rose again and continued 
flying landward.” This continued for some days, and 
shortly afterwards I read in a local paper of an actual 
invasion of the Durham coast by millions of the diamond- 
backed moth ( Plutella crucifer arum), which appeared 
about June 24th, infesting even seaport towns, such 
as Hartlepool, whither no self-respecting country-bred 
insect would dream of resorting. These invaders 
belonged to the same species as that of which the 
caterpillars, during the autumn, devastated the turnip - 
crop — the diamond-backed moth — and to me their 
transmarine origin appeared obvious, though the theory 
provoked much incredulity at the time. 
On August 18th I have another note of passing 
through thousands of moths of all sizes floating in mid- 
sea ; none, however, on that occasion were seen alive. 
On the same voyage we steamed for some two hours 
through a belt of floating feathers, mostly chestnut, 
with white tip and black subterminal bar. I give the 
record for what it is worth. 
June 4 th .—Homeward from Stavanger. Shortly 
after passing the three Brents above mentioned, a Night¬ 
jar circled round the Mercur, and eventually perched 
on the coamings of the forehatch. Being disturbed, it 
resumed its course for Norway, the coast still in full 
