Cossidse 
The eggs are generaiiy laid near the crotch of the tree, and 
watch should be kept in the spring of the year to detect their 
presence and destroy them before they are hatched. 
Genus COSSUS Fabricius 
The genus is found on both sides of the Atlantic. Cossus 
cossus Linnseus is a large species which does great damage to 
trees in Europe. As I am writing, my friend, Dr. Ortmann, relates 
that when he was a boy of eleven, living in his native village in 
Thuringia, his attention was called to a notice posted by the 
Burgermeister offering a reward for information which would lead 
to the detection and punishment of the individuals who by boring 
into the trunks of a certain fine avenue of birch-trees, upon which 
the place prided itself, had caused great injury to them. Already 
the instincts of the naturalist had asserted themselves, and the 
prying eyes of the lad had found out the cause of the trouble. 
He went accordingly to the office of the Burgermeister and in¬ 
formed him that he could tell him all about the injury to the trees. 
The official sat wide-mouthed and eager to hear. “But you 
must assure me, before I tell you, that the reward you offer will 
surely be paid to me.” “Yes, yes, my little man; do not be in 
doubt on that score. You shall certainly be paid.” “Well, 
then, Herr Burgermeister, the holes from which the sap is flowing 
were not made by boys who were after the birch-sap to make beer, 
but by the Weidenbohrer ." 1 A small explosion of official 
dignity followed. The act of the presumptuous boy was reported 
to a stern parent, and the result was, in Yankee phrase, a “ lick¬ 
ing,” which was certainly undeserved. 
(1) Cossus centerensis Lintner, Plate XII, Fig. I, $ . 
The insect is quite rare. It is found in the Atlantic States. 
(2) Cossus undosus Lintner, Plate XLI, Fig. 9, ? . 
Syn. brucei French. 
The moth occurs in the region of the Rocky Mountains. The 
specimen figured was taken on the Arkansas River in Colorado, 
near Canyon City. 
It is undoubtedly the most attractively marked and most ele¬ 
gant species found in our territory. 
1 The common German name for the Cossus. 
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