48 HALF HOURS WITH UN-SECTS. [Packard. 



colored caterpillars (such as the Currant Abraxas, or span 

 worm), which never conceal themselves, but on the contrary 

 appear to court observation" were not touched by the birds. 

 He states, on the other hand, that "all caterpillars whose 

 habits are nocturnal, and are dull-colored, with fleshy bodies 

 and smooth skins, are eaten with the greatest avidit}'. 

 Every species of green caterpillar is also much relished. 

 All Geometras, whose larvse resemble twigs, as they stand 

 out from the plant on their anal prologs, are invariably 

 eaten." Mr. A. G. Butler of London has also found that 

 frogs and spiders will not eat the same larviB rejected by 

 birds, the frogs having an especial aversion to the currant 

 span worms (Abraxas and Halia). 



The natural enemies of the Currant Saw Fly are three 

 kinds of ichneumon flies, of which one is a minute egg-para- 

 site. Mr. Lintner, of New York, states that of fifty eggs 

 laid by the parent saw fly, only four or five hatched out the 

 currant worm. "VVe see, then, that though the birds appar- 

 rently destroy none, an immense number are carried off, even 

 before they have a chance of doing any mischief, by minute 

 insects of their own order. 



One of the best remedies next to picking them off by 

 hand, and which is really the most practicable method of 

 getting rid of them, is to dust powdered white hellebore 

 over the bushes, by sprinkling it from a muslin bag tied to a 

 stick, as it otherwise excites violent sneezing. Used in this 

 small quantity it is not poisonous. This is the remedy used 

 with most success in the west, and recommended by Messrs. 

 Walsh and Riley. A solution, consisting of a pound of 

 copperas to six gallons of water, has been used with much 

 success. It blackens the leaves, but does not injure them 

 permanently. Also suds made of carbolic soap is perhaps 

 a better remedy. 



Dr. E. Worcester, of Waltham, according to the "Boston 

 Journal of Chemistry," finds that this worm "may be fully 



16 



