OF WASHINGTON. 17 



of infested squares or bolls I never saw the slightest trace of a 

 parasite. From the cultivated fields about 400 infested squares 

 were collected and a correspondingly large number of weevils 

 were bred from them, but not a single specimen of a parasite was 

 obtained. 



The above notes are abstracted from my letters written to Dr. 

 Howard. 



In the discussion Mr. Banks suggested that the loose cotton 

 might have been the original food plant, because it is less injured, 

 which is usually the case with abandoned food plants ; to which 

 Mr. Schwarz replied that this may be correct, if proven. He 

 further stated that the Gossypium brasiliense is probably also 

 found in South America, yet Koebele never found a specimen of 

 the weevil when he explored the cotton regions near Bahia and 

 Pernambuco. The distribution of the insect shows it to be of 

 Central American origin. Mr. Marlatt stated that it would be 

 of great interest to know whether these cottons are immune to 

 weevil. At present they are scattered, there being but few plants 

 grown on a large area, and therefore they are not more seriously 

 infested ; but he wondered if the habits of the insect would not 

 change were these plants grown on a large scale. He thought 

 that the chances were rather in favor of it since, where plants 

 are more abundant, the insect is found in proportionately larger 

 numbers. This was further discussed by Messrs. Gill and Dodge. 

 Mr. Schw r arz stated that his host, Mr. Ferrer, of Cayamas, had 

 published a series of important articles in the " Diario de la 

 Marina," of Havana, Cuba (issues of March 21 to March 27, 

 1903), on the history of cotton and on cotton cultivation in Cuba, 

 which included a chapter on the boll-weevil. 



OCTOBER 8, 1903. 



The iSoth regular meeting was held at the residence of Dr. 

 H. G. Dyar, 1512 Twenty-first street, N.W. Vice-President 

 Banks occupied the chair, and Messrs. Ashmead, Barber, Busck, 

 Currie, Doolittle, Dyar, Gill, Heidemann, Howard, Kotinsky, 

 Marlatt, Morris, Schwarz and Waite, members, and Mr. E. S. 

 G. Titus, visitor, also present. 



