126 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 



they return to, or show any uniformity in the size of the bunches. 

 But they only manage in this way while the leaves last. As soon as 

 one tree is stripped they go to another, and when one orchard is used 

 up leave for another. They are great travelers; on a smooth track, 

 like a hard road or a fence cap board, they get along quite fast. They 

 do not try to keep together, but each one goes on his own hook. 

 There is very little said about the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest 

 traveling in this way. 



Then our larvae appear decidedly to prefer the leaves of the Ap- 

 ple-tree, and only feed on the leaves of other trees when the former 

 are not to be had. Though I am not prepared to say that they will 

 not feed on Oak, Walnut or Hickory trees, under any circumstances, 

 I have repeatedly found these trees in full leaf when not only Apple 

 trees, but Ash and Basswood trees near by, were entirely stripped. 

 The eggs are sometimes laid on Hard Maple shade trees, but the cat- 

 erpillars leave these trees as soon as they get much size, evidently 

 in search of food more suitable to their taste. This may be the case 

 in regard to Oak and Walnut trees. 



They also select different places for their cocoons. Dr. Fitch says 

 the Tent-caterpillar ol the Forest selects a sheltered spot for its co- 

 coon, such as the corner or angle formed by the meeting of two or 

 three sides. In this the cocoon is suspended. Our larva selects one 

 or more leaves on any tree that is convenient. The edges of the 

 leaves are drawn together, forming a shelter in which there is gen- 

 erally one cocoon; though when the space is large, and they are very 

 numerous, there are often two or three cocoons together. The co- 

 coon is not suspended, but fastened to the leaf. They spin their co- 

 coons in the forepart of July, and the moths appear in the latter part 

 of the month. The Tent-caterpillar of the Forest spins its cocoon 

 about the 20th of June, and the moth appears in the forepart of July. 



Now I think enough has been given to show that two distinct in- 

 sects are under consideration, but, being only a farmer, I may be mis- 

 taken. I would like to see Dr. Fitch's views on this question. Un- 

 doubtedly he has read Dr. Walsh's article on "The Three so-called 

 Army-worms," in the Practical EntomologisU and can tell whether 

 our caterpillar is a distinct insect, or only shows the variations that 

 may be expected in the Tent-caterpillar of the Forest. 



Now since Dr. Fitch has not, to my knowledge, complied with 

 Mr. Ferris's courteous wish, the labor has devolved upon me. I have 

 taken upwards of 200 specimens from the same batch of Oak-feeding 

 worms, and upon critically examining them, find that Dr. Fitch's 

 description is accurate, and that the differences or variations men- 

 tioned by Mr. Ferris arise in every case, either from a misapprehen- 

 sion of Dr. Fitch's meaning, or from variations which may be found 

 in the same brood. The only real difference between the two writers 

 lies in the statement of Dr. Fitch that the worms live under a large 

 cob-web-like nest, and that of Mr. Ferris that they do no such thing. 

 Both statements should have been qualified, and were made without 

 sufficient observation ; for though the normal habit of the worms is 

 to collect outside of their nests, I have seen exceptional instances of 

 their collecting within or underneath it, especially when young. 



Now it is just barely possible that in Western New York there 

 may be a race of these worms that has taken to feeding on Apple and 



