INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE OAK. we 
and with two pairs of spurs, the forward shanks having only a single spine, which is 
placed on the middle of their inner sides, the same as in other moths; and the feet are 
compressed, and five-jointed, with the basal joint longest and the following ones suc- 
cessively shorter. The fore wings are black, with groups of whitish scales forming 
gray spots or clouds which are netted with black lines, varying greatly in different 
individuals. Often a transverse gray spot is situated towards the base and another 
on the anal angle, the outer and hind margins being gray alternated with black. The 
hind wings are black, with their posterior half of arich marigold yellow color bordered 
with a black line upon the hind margin, the yellow color being irregularly notched 
on its anterior side and narrowed to the inner angle, and not extended to the outer 
angle, the two outer cells being black. The outer or anterior margin, except at its 
base and tip, is usually gray alternated with transverse black streaks and blotches, 
and inside of this is a large ash-gray spot occupying the outer anterior part of the 
disk. The under sides of both wings is similar to their upper surface. 
The female would not be supposed to pertain to the same species with the male, her 
size is so much larger, her colors so much paler gray, and her hind wings being wholly 
destitute of the bright yellow coloring which forms so conspicuous a mark in the 
other sex. The branches of her antenne are also shorter, being but about four times 
as long as thick. The ground color of her fore wings is gray, variously netted with 
black lines dividing the gray in places into small roundish spots and into rings hay- 
ing black centers. The black color usually forms a broad irregular band across the 
middle of the wings parallel with the hind margin, and another between this and the 
hind edge, chiefly on the outer half of the wing, the hind edge and fringe being whitish 
alternated with black spots placed on the tips of the veins. The hind wings are dusky 
gray and towards their bases blackish, their posterior half being freely transparent 
and faintly netted with darker lines. The body is densely coated with gray scales, 
its under side hoary white; and the legs are gray, with black bands on the shanks, 
and black feet, with gray rings at their articulations. 
REMEDIES.—We have but a single suggestion to make upon the subject of remedies 
against this truly formidable though fortunately rare enemy. It is probable that soft 
scap applied the fore part of June to the bodies of trees will be equally efficacious 
against this and other borers as it is against that of the apple tree. This remedy may 
well be resorted to, to protect the locusts and oaks which we value as ornamental 
trees ; and scarce and valuable as timber is becoming in all the older settled sections 
of our country, I doubt not it will be found to be good economy to bestow similar 
attention upon the more valuable trees standing in our forests. 
It should also be observed that whenever a hole made by a borer is discovered in 
the trunk of a tree, it should be immediately closed by inserting a plug therein, to 
exclude the wet which will otherwise be admitted hereby to the interior of the tree 
and produce a decay of the surrounding wood. 
2. THE OAK COSSUS. 
NXyleutes (Cossus) querciperda Fitch. 
Order LEPIDOPTERA; Family BOMBYCID. 
Another and rather smaller borer, but belonging to a closely allied 
species, was found by Mr. J. A. Lintner resting upon the trunk of an 
o aktree in Schoharie, N. Y. It probably ranges all over the Eastern 
States and Mississippi Valley, since a species, either this or closely al- 
lied, is reported to us by Mr. G. W. Belfrage to inhabit Central Texas. 
Dr. Fitch thinks it probable that it bores into the oak. He describes it as 
a moth smaller in size than XY. robinia, with thin and slight transparent 
