80 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
where it has been frequently found feeding on the leaves of turnip. The 
wings are white, with much larger, longer, and more irregularly-shaped 
black markings than rape, and these round black spots are never so 
distinctly marked. Their transformations are effected very much in the 
same manner as rape, and the same remedies may be used. 
Sensational reports have appeared from time to time during the past 
year in various local papers, stating that individuals have died, from be- 
ing poisoned or stung by the caudal horn or tail of the common green 
tomato or potato worm, Macrosila (celeus G. and BR.) quinquemacuiata, 
Steph., and many persons have been so much alarmed by these reports 
as to abstain entirely from gathering their tomatoes. This is simply 
ridiculous, as the caterpillar has no power of charging tail foremost; 
and even if it had, there 
is no pSison whatever 
in either the tail or head. 
lt is true, if erushed, 
the larva will eject from 
its mouth a greenish 
semi-fluid substance, 
which is merely the un- 
—=—<—<———— a digested and recently- 
swallowed food. Had there been a poison about these much-abused - 
caterpillars, there would have been dreadful mortality among the turkeys 
in Maryland for many years past, as these birds are used to extirpate 
the tobacco worms, a closely allied species, feeding upon them vora- 
ciously, even fattening on them, and without any symptoms of poison. 
It may be interesting to entomologists to know that last year the cat- 
Fig. 40. erpillar of Spina eremitis, 
a. Walk., (sordida of Har.,) 
BSTC US Be was taken feeding on 
SRA Pe eho afi +\ the mountain mintin the 
Lp eek} autumn. Thislarva was 
i eons — =. described by Mr. Litner 
——$——————:”~—‘i.~C«CE Albany, N. Y., 8 ped 
ing on spearmint or wild bergamot. An outline of the caterpillar is 
given, as it is rare and little known. 
The larve of a very common and beautiful moth, well known to entomo- 
logists, Utetheisa (Deieopea) bella, (Drury,) were discovered late in July and 
Fie. 41. ' August to be abundant in the seed- 
V\LIZAIY? cere ah re. To! 2 pods of the rattle-box, ( Crotalaria.) 
SWisisstree (i an phe Eee The caterpillar, having first eaten 
dg PBS < a large round hole in the outer en- 
~---velope or shell, enters the pod, 
where it hides itself, and, undis- 
turbed by outside influences, de- 
vours the ‘seeds. This habit of 
concealing itself in the pod renders 
finding it very difficult, even when 
the beating-net is used to sweep 
themeadows. Dr. Harris formerly 
suggested that as the larva of a 
European species is said to feed 
on the mouse-ear, our native species might do the same; but, although 
diligently searched for, it has not yet been taken here on that plant. 
The moth, which is partly diurnal in habits, is of a yellow color, beau- 
tifully and irregularly marked with white, in which are several distinct 
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