318 



some of the feathers, as the pillow appeared too hard. Upon opeuing the tick the feath- 

 ers seemed to be ground up almost iuto a powder and unfit for further use ; there- 

 fore they were emptied and the tick turned inside out, and instead of the goods being 

 as when made, it was entirely covered with a fine growth of down as evenly and 

 thickly as tlic fur on a mole-skin, which it very much resembles; it is firmly attached, 

 the down breaking rather than pull off. Not a piece of the feather is attached to it 

 but as smooth as a piece of velvet, even the seams are covered by the growth. Not 

 an insect can be found in the feathers, but the grinding process was supposed to be 

 done by some insect. The lady made several pillows at the same time and of the 

 same feathers, but when these pillows were opened nothing was found but feathers 

 as when made. This was found about a month ago and the ladies through the 

 country have opened many pillows, some as much as fifty years old, but no such thing 

 can be found. To look at it one would think it the hide of some animal, and would 

 never imagine it to be a pillow-tick except by close inspection. I inclose some of the 

 feathers, which will give you an idea of the color and a description from the local pa- 

 per which may help to give you an idea of its api)earauce. Many theories as to its 

 formation are offered, but nothing satisfactory, and the community would like your 

 opinion. * * * — [j. j). Davis, Clarksville, Mo., January 19, 1890. 



Reply. — Yours of the 19th inst., together with the specimens of feathers, duly re- 

 ceived. A careful examination of these fragments shows no trace of an insect or of 

 in.sect remains. The specimens which you have are very interesting, although I have 

 seen the same thing before and several notes have been placed upon record regard- 

 ing precisely similar cases. In the American Naturalist for December, 1882, I men- 

 tioned one of these cases and gave an explanation which is as follows: 



Pillows in which this felting of the ticking occurs have been infested by one of the 

 Deriuestid beetles (in all of the cases with which I am familiar it has been Attagenu» 

 megatoma) whose work has resulte<l in the comminution of the feathers, and the felt- 

 ing results from the .subsequent mechanical action. The small feather particles are 

 barbed, as you are aware, and, whenever caught in a cotton fabric by their bases, be- 

 come anchored in such a way that every movement of the pillow anchors them still 

 further. The frequent shaking which pillows receive results ultimately in the for- 

 mation of this plush-like surface. A similar bit of ticking was exhibited at the 

 Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, April .5, 188:1, and elicited the information 

 that one of the members had some years previously examined a similar material 

 known to have been formed from the fragments of gull feathers and that a cloak had 

 been made from it which wore well. * * ' — [January 23, 1890.'] 



Extreme Ravages of Cut-Worms. 



As our part of the country has been ravaged this year by the Cut-worm, which I 

 believe is the same one that destroyed the oniou crop of Orange County, N. Y., in 

 report for 1885, p. 270, I would like very much to know if you have any subsequent 

 information in regard to the habits of the moth or worm ; if so, I would be very grate- 

 ful for report containing it. Corn has been the crop that has suffered here, and as 

 some fields are totally destroyed, the damage in these parts will amount to many 

 dollars. I will give my case as a sample. I have four pieces of 28, 6, and 5 acres.. 

 The first three pieces were planted with Lister, beginning May 10. First planting 

 was a total loss. Replanted all on the 28-acre piece. All destroyed the second time 

 except 3 acres with about one-fourth stand left. Second piece was a total loss, and 

 was sowed with one-half bushel to acre for fodder ; at present writing it shows very 

 little corn, as Cut-worms take it not quite as fast as it comes up. Third piece gave less 

 than one-fourth of a stand. Fourth piece was plowed, having been brok^ last year, 

 and is about one-third stand with Cut-worms still working. 1 tried cutting, growing 

 rye, and Paris greening to poison them, but the bait was not succulent enough. I 

 think I could have killed a good many if I had used suitable bait. Have found seven 



