40 1 



marked lengthwise, with small interrupted dusky lines; the sides blackish 

 with a pale line along the length ol the body; there are two white spots on 

 the last segmenl of the body; the abdomen or under side is ash coloured." 

 The chrysalis state, he adds, is entered upon in twenty-four hours after the 

 larva has penetrated the earth ; "and ii appears thai the insect is soon per- 

 fect, since a course of warm weather has been found to raise some of them 

 from the earth in the mouth of November." (Here he evidently confounds 

 the autumnal species with vernata.) "The body of the male is of an ashen- 

 umber colour, almost five lines in length, extent of its upper wings one 

 inch, two lines. The wings are asli coloured, with three obscure blackish 

 transverse stripes, and a small dash of the same colour at the tip. The 

 under wind's are of an uniform colour, and rather lighter than the ground of 

 the upper ones. The body of the female is nearly lour lines in length, ash- 

 coloured, and marked on the back with a brown list extending from the 

 thorax to the tail. She is destitute of wings. Legs dusky, with white joints.'' 



Peck's diagnosis is as follows: — "Phalcena (vernata*} geometra seticornis, 

 alis cinereis; fasciis tribus obscuris fuscis, posticis immaculatis; femina aptera." 

 The canker-worm is said by Peck to have been first observed in the Southern 

 States, where it is probably a native, and may have been introduced 

 into New England by the importation ol trees from the Southern States. 

 "It has been discovered on a plum tree." Mr. Peck made bis observations 

 in Battery, Me. We have never observed it in Brunswick, Me., during 

 several years' observations; but in 1875 it was said to be, for the first time, 

 injurious in orchards in that town. While Peck's idea that it is a soul hern 

 importation is probably incorrect, it is probable that it is indigenous to all 

 parts of the country east of the Mississippi, as we have specimens from 

 Texas, and as far north as Southeastern Maine, but is abundant only locally 

 originally along the coast of Northeastern Massachusetts, and of late years 

 in Illinois and Missouri. 



Its native food-plant is the elm, and, according to Mr. John Sears, of 

 Danvers, Mass., the black ash, both in deep woods and in the open meadow, 

 as he has found the females ascending the trees: but it is usually more 

 destructive to the apple and at times the cherry. In April, 1ST."). I noticed 

 particularly .1. vernata in my garden; none had appeared before the loth 

 and Llth, the season having been a very backward one. During these 

 two days, which were warm and line, 1 counted about one thousand males 



" From its appearing early in Iho spring." 



