Brackett on Minnpfiota Birds. 7 



As far as my observations extend the species appears to 

 prefer small trees, from four to six inches in diameter. 



In former years 1 have counted as many as four or five 

 trees infested and killed by this pest in one small piece of 

 woodland. If the tree is small and very badly infested, it 

 dies very quickly ; and shortly after the beetles have es- 

 caped the bark is apt to flake off, or curl up, in quite large 

 pieces. A few years ago the beetles did considerable dam- 

 age to small hickories in my vicinity, but for the last two or 

 three years, I have seen but few beetles, and no badly in- 

 fested trees. I have noticed only one para^dte of this 

 insert, viz : a small black and red ichneumon w^asp, they 

 occurred only in scattered instances and were comparatively 

 uncommon. 



When a piece of bark filled with Olyra in various stages, 

 is peeled from a tree, the parasites may be detected at a 

 glance by their silken cocoons, firmly imbedded in the 

 burrow of some hapless larva. Barking the infested trees 

 in early spring and burning the bark, I would suggest as a 

 means of defence. 



Packard in his Insects Injurious to Forest and Shade Trees 

 (Bulletin No. 7), page 28, speaks of this species as found on 

 the oak, but I have never seen it anywhere, but on various 

 species of Caryce. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM MINNESOTA. 

 By Foster H. Brackett. 



{Continued from Vol. II. p. ^g.) 



10. Parus atricapillus. Chickadee. Common. Found 

 almost everv where. 



