54 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



After a little over two weeks, that is, after time enough had 

 elapsed for two or three generations following the death of the 

 larvse originally distributed, the locality at Kittery Point was 

 again inspected, and a very general epidemic was found to be 

 in progress. Thousands of the dead and dying larvse were 

 found on the trunks and branches of the trees, and everywhere 

 that the brown-tails were feeding; and, when, somewhat later, 

 the time for pupation had arrived, it was difficult to find a 

 single healthy larva. It was further noticed that the disease 

 had extended north and east in the path of the winds prevalent 

 at this season, while there appeared to be little if any extension 

 of the disease in the opposite directions. 



Although the conditions indicated may well have arisen as 

 the result of natural infection, and may not have been caused, 

 or even greatly influenced, by the distribution of the infected 

 larvae, the extraordinary efficacy of the disease in clearing this 

 region of the pest was not to be questioned. In view of the 

 unusual susceptibility to the Entomophthora contagion shown 

 by the brown-tail caterpillar, and the wide-spread epidemics 

 to which it is subject from this cause, as evidenced by the 

 conditions seen at Kittery Point, as well as in some other lo- 

 calities, it seemed desirable to certain persons interested in 

 the endeavor to control this pest that some attempt should be 

 made to test the efficacy of artificial infections with this fun- 

 gous disease. By a special arrangement with this office, there- 

 fore, Dr. G. P. Clinton, mycologist of the Connecticut Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station, was given leave of absence for 

 several months, in order that he might undertake the work. 

 That the results obtained were less definite than had been 

 hoped for was certainly not due to any lack of ability or per- 

 sistent effort on the part of Dr. Clinton, to whom those es- 

 pecially interested in the experiment are under great Obligation 

 for the vigor with which he prosecuted the work, which was 

 not only an interference with his professional duties at the 

 station, but which was also accompanied by an amount of 

 physical discomfort which can only be appreciated by one who 

 has experienced the consequences inevitably associated with 

 continual handling of these stinging caterpillars. 



Owing to unavoidable delays in making the necessary ar- 



