1913 EXTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 61 



average larval content of 386 per web. This spring (1913) the writer instigated 

 an examination of 131 webs collected at various points in New Brunswick; these 

 gave an average larval content of 175.81 per web, or approximately 110 less larvae 

 per web than in the case of the more southern relatives and progenitors. 



This discrepancy probably appears slightly greater than it actually is on 

 account of the fact that as the total number of feathered enemies apparently 

 remains unchanged, while the total number of caterpillars becomes greater it 

 would naturally be expected that birds would be responsible for a greater mortality 

 of the wintering larvffi in the thinly infested Canadian area than in the thickly 

 infested American one. Also Mr. Kirklaud's nests possibly contained a few more 

 'compound' ones than did the Canadian ones. These two factors, however, by no 

 means eliminate the discrepancy. 



The explanation of the discrepancy seems to be that the lighter females, i.e., 

 those containing fewer eggs, have better chances of flying long distances and that it 

 is therefore only such moths that have up to the present time succeeded in reaching 

 New Brunswick. Lower temperatures may also possibly have a tendency to reduce 

 the number of eggs laid, but there is no direct evidence in support of such a view. 



The two points in the biology of the Brown-tail Moth that have just been 

 mentioned are both illustrative of differences between the insect in Massachusetts 

 and New Brunswick. 



SAX JOSe; SCALE IN NOVA SC0TL4. 

 G. E. SaxdeeS. Divisiox of Extomology, Ottawa. 



In scouting for Brown-tail moth in the orchards of the Annapolis Valley 

 during the season of 1910-1911 and 1911-13 the inspectors were, to a certain 

 extent, on the lookout for San Jose Scale. As the San Jose Scale had never been 

 reported from Nova Scotia, and the majority of the imported nursery stock came 

 from Ontario, where it was considered that proper measures were taken to safe- 

 guard the buyer, the chances of finding Scale were thought to be very remote. 

 Inspection during 1913, however, proved this opinion in regard to trees shipped 

 into Nova Scotia to be very inaccurate. 



On April 8th, while scouting the property of Thomas Wagner of Aylesford, 

 some Stark trees of 1911 planting from Ontario were found to be moderately 

 infested with what appeared to be dead San Jose Scale. It was plain that unless 

 this was an exceptionally bad lot of trees, the finding of living San Jose Scale was 

 only a matter of inspecting a large enough number, no matter how well the fumi- 

 gating was carried on. 



As the Brown-tail moth work occupied the time fully until May 1st, no time, 

 during that month could be spent in hunting for living Scale. The matter of finding 

 dead Scale was reported to Principal Cumming, Provincial Secretary for Agriculture 

 for Nova Scotia, through Dr. Hewitt, and he immediately published notices in the 

 newspapers asking the owners of recently imported Ontario trees to report them and 

 an inspector would be sent to examine 'the stock. In this way many lots of trees 

 were reported and examined, but no living San Jose Scale found. In addition, the 

 1912 importation was examined as it arrived and it was the exception rather than 



