THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 269 



interesting result obtained from the analyses of the different stages of the 

 Gypsy moth made in 1893 and 1894 is that pupae and imagoes from cater- 

 pillars which have been reared on leaves sprayed with Paris green or 

 arsenate of lead may contain arsenic in recognizable quantities. Several 

 puppe and a few female imagoes obtained under these conditions, when 

 subjected to chemical analysis, gave ample evidence of the presence of 

 arsenic in their bodies. This shows that the presence of arsenic in the 

 pupa may not materially interfere with the processes involved in the devel- 

 opment of the imago. Since, as has been repeatedly demonstrated, moths 

 reared from poisoned larvfe are capable of reproduction, it is also evident 

 that the arsenic contained in their bodies does not injure the reproductive 

 function." With reference to the amount of arsenic which could be 

 consumed by some of these caterpillars, and yet leave them " normally 

 active and healthy," it was found that some of them had in their bodies, 

 in proportion to their weight, an amount equivalent to 121-^ times the 

 fatal dose for an adult human being, in proportion to the weight of the 

 latter. 



The work of the Gypsy Moth Committee has been criticised, examined 

 and studied by practical men who were entomologists and others who 

 were not. As far as I can learn, the general verdict is that excellent 

 work, and, under the circumstances, remarkably so, has been done. The 

 insect is not exterminated, it is true; but there seems every reason to 

 hope, judging from what has been done and the behaviour of the species 

 in other countries where it was once alarmingly abundant, that this is 

 possible if money be supplied and if it be given at the time when it can 

 be made use of to the best advantage. On pages 38 to 93 of the report 

 will be found an instructive account of the constant efforts of the com- 

 mittee to get funds to carry on the work properly, and year after year it 

 was the same story of reduced, and what was almost worse, delayed, 

 appropriations, resulting in the necessity of modifying the whole plan of 

 work arranged for the year ; so that instead of making vigorous efforts 

 for the extermination of the insect, and fighting it at the time this could 

 be most effectively done — early in the season when the caterpillars were 

 small — all that could be done was to try and prevent the further spread 

 of the enemy from the localities known to be infested. The appropria- 

 tions which have been made for this work are considerable, about 

 $525,000 up to the present time, and this amount would certainly have 

 produced far better results could the committee have obtained the grants 



