452 BISTON SUPPRESSARIA, 

anything like the extent of the above.........6 Fortunately they 
seem to pay most attention to the sanatha, which is of little 
value and practically irrepressible.” A pest of this nature with. 
its great feeding capabilities cannot be looked upon as other 
than serious in small brushwood forests on dry slopes. The com- 
plete defoliation has naturally a much more serious effect on 
small growth than it would have on high tree forest, and it is pro-- 
bable that were the insect favoured by a series of dry favourable 
seasons it would commit a very considerable amount of havoc 
before it was finally again brought down to normal proportions 
by predaceous animals and insects, etc. 
Protection and Remedies, 
Mr. Hoghton attributes the attack he reports, and I consider- 
correctly so, to a great deficiency in the rainfall during the 
preceding winter and up to the time of the appearance of the- 
insects. This being so, however, it is curious that no mention 
is made of the pest having appeared earlier in the year as an. 
insect of this kind, living at the comparatively low elevation of- 
these hills, would almost certainly have done. One good 
feature noticed was the great flocks of birds which the presence 
of so large a number of caterpillars collected together.. 
Mr. Hoghton remarks: ‘‘I was glad to see the starlings feeding 
upon them heavily, I have never before seen such large flocks of 
these birds in the Lower Murree Hills as I saw when visiting 
the Daleh Reserve on the 1st August.” 
No mention is made of any predaceous or parasitic insects. 
having been observed preying upon either the larve or pupe. 
We require to know something about these before it will be 
possible to consider remedies. Also where the insect spends the- 
winter and in which stage. It may prove possible to introduce- 
measures to get rid of the eggs if the cold weather is passed in. 
this stage. 
Points in the life-history requiring further observation. 
1. Where the eggs are laid and when. 
2. Length of time spent in the larval stage by the July. 
larve. 
