342 JOURNAL OP ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 2 



On June 17 we examined other chicks from the same brood, which 

 were now, of course, somewhat larger. 



On chick No. 1 we found nodules now healing from which the mites 

 had evidently escaped. AVe also found fresh tubercles on the sides 

 of the body with mites in them, also isolated mites on the under sides 

 of the wings. 



On chick No. 2, on the right side of the abdomen, I found two very 

 large tubercles. On one of them I counted the red abdomens of seven- 

 teen mites closely packed together like red berries, with their heads 

 buried in the tissues of the tubercle like ticks. 



On chick No. 3 I found a very large tubercle, showing the bodies of 

 nine mites, and on chick No. 4 a tubercle was found with the bodies 

 of nineteen mites clustered at the apex. All of these chickens were 

 affected with other smaller clusters of mites, and with a few isolated 

 ones on the under sides of the wings. 



I submitted specimens of these mites to Mr. Banks for identification, 

 and he wrote that they were "Leptus, that is, the larvae of Trom- 

 bidium. No species have as yet been bred in this country, so it is 

 impossible to tell to what species your material belongs." 



Professor Kerr, in observing the effect of these mites on the young 

 chickens, says they soon succumb to the mite attacks. The chick 

 seems to contract a diarrhoea, grows weaker and weaker, and finally 

 dies. He thinks these mites are responsible for a high mortality 

 among chickens in the South. 



It is quite probable that these mites breed among weeds and tall 

 grass, where the sun's rays cannot penetrate and where moisture con- 

 ditions are favorable. It seems to me that 3'oung chicks liable to at- 

 tacks from these mites should be confined to areas kept clear from 

 weeds and tall grass. The mites will not be apt to breed in closely 

 cropped grass and in an absence of shade. The heat of the sun would 

 probably prevent their development. 



INSECTS AND LEGISLATION 



By E. P. Felt, Albany, N. Y. 

 It is interesting to note the effect of insect depredations upon legis- 

 lation by our state and federal governments. The early laws provided 

 simply for the study of injurious insects and plant diseases and for 

 the dissemination of information concerning them through the press 

 by means of reports and bulletins. Dr. T. W. Harris of Massachu- 

 setts was the first American entomologist to receive compensation from 



