re;port op state entomologist. 263 



several of the trees. An investigation was made by the Bureau 

 of Plant Industry at Washington and a large amount of material 

 was gathered to be used in the endeavor to ascertain the real 

 nature of the trouble. We wrote to the bureau and received 

 the following reply. 



"My Dear Sir: — Your recent inquiry concerning the white pine dis- 

 ease addressed to the Bureau of Forestry has been referred to myself. 

 During the month of September an investigation was made of the 

 disease as it occurs in New England, New York, and New Jersey. The 

 indications are very strong that the trouble is of a fungous origin, and 

 therefore infectious, but it is necessary that another season's work be 

 done before this point can be made a certainty. Because of our uncer- 

 tainty regarding the nature of the trouble, I have been recommending 

 the cutting of the dead and dying trees and burning the brush from the 

 same. I do not recommend the cutting of slightly affected trees, leav- 

 ing that to personal judgment of the owner. Thus far the fungus 

 Septoria parasitica had been found occurring almost imiversally as an 

 accompaniment of this disease. Certain facts observed in the field tend 

 to show that frost and drought are not responsible for the trouble; but, 

 as said before, the exact original cause is yet somewhat in doubt. It is 

 proposed to determine this as soon as possible, and to that end con- 

 siderable time will be devoted during the next spring and summer to 

 field observations and experiments in various localities in New England 

 and New York. 



Regretting the unsatisfactory state of our knowledge of this trouble, 

 I am. 



Very truly yours," 

 PERLEY SPAULDINCx, 



Scientific Assistant. 



Several species of plants have been identified during the year, 

 some as noxious weeds and others proved to be beneficial. 



BIRD NOTES. 



No time was spent by the men in the field on bird study, so 

 that what was recorded in the note books was purely accidental. 

 No doubt many notes could have been secured if a little time 

 could have been given to this side of the question. I will name 

 a few cases that came under the observation of the men. 



On June i6th a scarlet tanager was seen feeding on the 

 larvae of the brown-tail. 



I quote from G. H. Forbush's "Useful Birds and Their Pro- 

 tection" published by the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. 

 "As a caterpillar hunter this bird has few superiors. It is 



