16 
CORN AND GRASS. 
going abroad in two or three days) I asked him to procure some and 
send them to you.” 
Specimens were forwarded directly after, which agreed so precisely 
with caterpillars of the Antler Moth, Cliaraas graminis, which were 
forwarded to me in 1881, when there was a somewhat similar outburst 
of this kind of caterpillar at Clitheroe, in Lancashire, that I consider 
the Glamorganshire attack was also caused by this kind, although, 
looking at the great extent of country over which the ravages of the 
caterpillars extended, it is impossible to say whether other kinds may 
not have been present also. 
CHARiEAS GRAMINIS. 
Antler Moth and caterpillars. 
The above figure gives the size and method of marking of the 
Antler Moth and caterpillar. With regard to colour, the moths are 
variable, but may be generally described as having the fore wings of 
various tints of brown, with somewhat pale or white antler-sliaped 
markings, from which the moth takes its name. The hind wings are 
brown or greyish brown. 
The caterpillars are marked with dark brown and pale streaks run¬ 
ning lengthwise ; the head is brown or yellowish. The life-history is 
stated to be that the eggs are laid by the female moths about the 
middle of the summer; these hatch in about three weeks, and the 
caterpillars are then said to hide themselves by day and feed by night 
they live through the winter, and in spring again begin their destructive 
operations. These continue till about June, when they go down into 
the ground to turn to chrysalids, from which the moths come out to 
lay the eggs, as above mentioned, in July and August. 
To those unacquainted with the habits of this kind of caterpillar, 
the enormous numbers in which they sometimes swarm over large 
tracts appear as alarming as they are unaccountable; but this great 
visitation in S. Wales does not differ in any point excepting the very 
large area attacked from various appearances recorded before in this 
country, as, for instance, the one which will be remembered as occur¬ 
ring at Clitheroe, Lancashire, in 1881, and a great appearance on 
Skiddaw about 1824, also on the Hartz Mountains of Germany in 
1816 and 1817 ; and the devastating power is the same which made 
