92 [Assembly, 



also by him the " Forest tent-caterpillar," in distinction from the 

 common apple-tree tent caterpillar. The two species in appearance 

 closely resemble one another, the principal difference being tliat 

 while the latter is marked along its back with a white line, the 

 former has a row of somewhat oval spots, which are either 

 white or yellowish. Their habits are quite different, for while the 

 apple-tree species spins large and conspicuous web-nests in the 

 forks of the limbs in which it congregates at night, the webs of 

 the other arc seldom seen, as they are usually placed upon the sur- 

 face of the trunk of the tree, and covered and concealed by the 

 larvae, which use it merely as a resting place and not for a shelter. 

 The common name of this insect is an unfortunate one, for it is 

 probably observed as often upon apple trees as upon forest trees. 

 Although Dr. Harris gave as its habit, "living in communities 

 under a common web or tent made against the trunk or beneath 

 some of the principal branches of the trees," yet this so seldom 

 occurs that it has been questioned. Prof. Riley, however, records 

 {Third Report Insects of Missouri p. 126) that he has seen excep- 

 tional instances of their collecting within or beneath their web, 

 especially when young. I do not find that Dr. Fitch confirms 

 Dr. Harris by stating that " the worms live under a large cobweb 

 nest," as quoted by Prof. Riley {loc. cit.), but that " these caterpillars 

 build their nest against the side of the tree instead of in a fork 

 of the limbs " {First and Second Re2)oi'ts on the Insects of Nev) 

 York, p. 198). The statements upon page 199 that "a few 

 of ttie caterpillars remain upon the tree and continue to occupy 

 the nest," and, also, " many of the cocoons found in the old nests," 

 etc., obviously refer to Clisiocampa Americana, in continuation of 

 its history as given on page 194. 



In reply to ;i request made to Mr. Babcock for some additional 

 information upon this insect, as it was evident that he had observed 

 it with more than ordinary care, he has written me under date of 

 May twenty-fifth, as follows : 



At the time of sending my first communication, there was not a 

 nest in sight ; now they have nests much flatter than those of the 

 apple-tree worm. One that I saw this morning encircled a limb 

 of four inches in diameter for over half a yard. When I first saw 

 the caterpillars they were in patches on the trunks and larger 

 limbs, about eiglit or ten inches long by two to four inches wide 

 all lying parallel to each other. The patches were generally in 



