192 FORTT-FIFTH REPORT ON THE StATE MuSEUM. 



The caterpillar may be easily recognized by its head, first segment, 

 and anal plate, being of a wax-yellow color, and its purplish-brown 

 body, conspicuously lined with three white stripes, of which the central 

 one is continuous from the first to the last segment, while the side ones 

 are interrupted over the third to the eighth segments. A black band 

 borders the side of the anal plate and the first segment and crosses the 

 side of the head; the three pairs of thoracic legs are glossy black, the 

 others (prolegs) are whitish. The caterpillar and the moth into which 

 it develops are shown in Figure 37. 



In Professor J. B. Smith's recent Catalogue of the Noctuida? of 

 Boreal America, this and its allied species are referred to the genus 

 Hydrcecia. 



The example sent is darker colored than any I have previously seen, 

 being almost black. It manifests nothing of the restlessness and 

 apparent timidity of those that I have taken from burrows 



The present attack is of entomological interest rather than of economic 

 importance. It probably will not occur in sufiicient number on the 

 tassels to prevent or even interfere with the proper poUenization of the 

 plants. In the pieces of the tassels sent, as showing the operations of 

 the caterpillars, a few of the flowers (staminate) have been nearly con- 

 sumed and others partly eaten into, but the resultant injury will be so 

 slight that no anxiety need be felt, in this instance, on account of the 

 presence of the caterpillar, and no remedy for it need be suggested. 

 (Neio England Homastead, for July 13, 1889.) 



The Cow-hor.v Fly in New York. 



A letter received from Miss Drake, of Demster, Oswego county, in 

 the latter part of August, of the present year (1891), announced the 

 presence of this fly on farms in that locality. In addition to replying 

 to her request for information, the following notice was sent to the 

 Osioego Times, and was published in the semi-weekly edition, dated 

 September 4th. 



Hon. John A. Place : 



Dear Sir : — I am sorry to be obliged to announce the advent in 

 your county of a very injurious insect pest, which is destined to increase 

 and do much harm to the dairy interest, whatever efforts may be made 

 to arrest its spread. With timely warning, however, and a general 

 effort to prevent the increase of the pest, its injuries may be materially 

 lessened. 



