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NOTES ON CLISIOCAMPA DTSSTRIA (Hiil)ner), 

 ( . SYLYATK A (Harris). 



JJy J. D. B. F. Mackenzie. 



During the early part of the suiinner — i. e. — the month of 

 July — reports frequently reached me from the interior of this 

 county of the appearance of caterpillars in large numhers on the 

 trees in the forest. From descriptions received I judged it to be 

 the Forest Tent Caterpillar. Investigation proved my surmise 

 to be correct. On the 9th of July, at the annual outing of the 

 Miramichi Natural History Association, I visited the village 

 of Red Bank, about twenty miles from Chatham, on the Mira- 

 michi River, and with very little trouble found a district where 

 the caterpillars left un)nistakable evidences of their ])resence. 

 There was little difKculty in locating them, as a ridge of Poplar 

 trees, Poynless Albtt, extending for miles and miles across the 

 country was entirely devastated of its foliage, presenting the ap- 

 pearance of trees in mid-winter. This is the first year these in- 

 sects have api)eared in any great numbers in this district, and, 

 so far, their ravages were confined to the Poplar in the above place. 

 Although birch and withwood, as well as fir, were abundant all 

 arounr] it, none of them were eaten. One peculiarity I noticed 

 was that after caterpillars fed on the Poplar the cocoons were 

 invariably found on the birch trees if any were near, always be- 

 tween two or more leaves rolled or gathered together to form a 

 protective covering. When this tree was not near the fir ap- 

 peared to be the favorite, the cocoons being always on the under- 

 side of the limb; but if both trees were near, the birch was in- 

 variably selected. Careful search among the trees failed to re- 

 veal any evidences of the so-called tent. Miss Treat, in her work, 

 ''Injurious Insects of the Farm and Garden," insists that the 

 tent is alwr.yi? woven, although sometimes overlooked for the 

 reason that it is s])un near the trunk of the tree and not on top 

 of the branches as is the case with the Apple Tree Tent Cater- 

 ])illar. I failed to find any, so must look upon the presence of 

 the tent as a disputed point still until I find further evidence of 



