REPORT VOL rin SEAT ENTOMOLOGIST 1912 [O07 
marsh mosquitos in Ig11, contracted with a company for the thor- 
ough drainage of the salt meadows and such upland territory as 
afforded natural breeding places for mosquito larvae. The work 
on the salt meadows, we are informed by a local correspondent, 
proved particularly effective and throughout the entire village mo- 
sq.itos were very scarce during the season. The scanty rainfall of 
the early summer was also of service in that breeding pools re- 
mained small, and though the drainage work was not completed 
until September, a marked decrease in the number of mosquitos 
was observed. The expense of this work was $4250. ‘This was 
met in part by subscription, the village contributing $2000 from 
the tax budget. 
Other shore communities in New York State have obtained strik- 
ing benefits as a result of systematic drainage, which latter involves 
a moderate annual expenditure for the maintenance of the ditches 
in good condition. The value of this work, owing to the migratory 
habits of the common salt marsh mosquito, is greatly increased if 
it be made general throughout a section where such breeding con- 
ditions obtain. The pioneer work of communities along this line 
can not be indorsed too highly and should serve as a marked stimu- 
lus to those adjacent. There is no question as to the practicability 
of eliminating almost entirely the mosquito nuisance, even in the 
immediate vicinity of salt marshes. The village of Lawrence, with 
salt marshes almost contiguous on three sides of the residential 
section, is a striking example of what may be accomplished by 
systernatic and thorough work. The material benefits accruing 
from such undertakings will become more evident with the progress 
of time and we confidently expect that within a few years mosquito- 
ridden salt marshes and the almost intolerable mosquito nuisance 
will be found only near a few unprogressive communities. 
Cotton moth (Alabama argillacea Hubn.) The re- 
markable flight of this insect in rgitr was duplicated in considerable 
measure the present season, though in some localities the moths 
were not so numerous as a year ago. The first record of the season 
we have is September 18th, based on an observation made by Mr 
E. P. Van Duzee at Buffalo. Mr Bird reports the largest number 
at Rye, Westchester county, from October 8th to 12th. The moths 
were seen by a number of competent observers in widely separated 
sections of the State between October roth and 12th and later. 
The fresh, unrubbed condition of the insects was noted by several, 
