24 SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 



moths, and no insect migrates to any great distance except in large 

 swarms or bevies. 



In my former article on this insect I stated, on the authority of 

 the late Mr. Thos. Affleck, of Brenham, Texas, that the Cotton-moth 

 always alights head downward. Dr. D. L, Phares, of Woodville, Miss.^ 

 who is also a good observer, can not subscribe to this statement, as 

 the following quotation from one of his letters will show: ''It is to 

 me and others unaccountable that the late Mr. Affleck (long resident 

 in Adams county, Miss., and having a farm in this, Wilkinson county,) 

 should, so late as 1868, reiterate that the Anomis invariably alights 

 with the head down, or instantly assumes that position, for it does not 

 accord with my observations this or any former year." 



THE CANKER-WORM. 



In his second annual Report, as State Entomologist of Illinois, Dr. 

 William Le Baron gives prominence to an article on this insect, de- 

 tailing much interesting experience had with it in 1871, and publish- 

 ing for the first time some important facts. This experience accords 

 with and confirms what I have already written so far as it goes.. He 

 shows that the moths are most active in the evening : i. e.^ they are 

 crepuscular, like almost all the species belonging to the same family. 

 He also shows that the principal mode of migration is by the worms 

 floating in the air and being blown from tree to tree while hanging from 

 their threads. I subjoin his summary of remedies in his own words : 



" 1st. Prevent the pass:ige of the moths up the trees. The most 

 approved plan heretofore used is to put a canvas or other cloth band, 

 six inches or more in width, around the trunk and besmear it with 

 tar, or a mixture of tar and molasses, applied every other day. The 

 method suggested in this report is to put a band of rope or closely 

 twisted hay around the trunk, and over this a tin band about four 

 inches wide, placed so that the rope shall be at the middle of the tin, 

 making a closed cavity below, and a free edge of tin above. The time 

 to use these appliances is mostly in the month of March, but also at 

 other times when the weather is sufficiently open to permit the insects 

 to run. 



"2nd. If the moths are prevented from ascending the tree, they 

 will deposit their eggs below the obstruction, and for the most part 

 near to it. These eggs can be destroyed by a single application of 

 kerosene oil. 



