28 SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 



Other correspondents mention the King Bird, Purple Grakle 

 House Pigeon, all the Vireos, Downy Woodpecker, Summer Yellow- 

 bird, Blue-bird, Golden-winged "Woodpecker, Golden Robin and Yel- 

 low-bill Cuckoo. AVith such a formidable array of feathered enemies, 

 the sudden disappearance of the Canker-worm, for a term of years, 

 from orchards where it was wont to play havoc, is no longer to be 

 wondered at. 



Following Harris, I have stated* that the sexes of this insect may 

 be distinguished in the chrysalis state by the female chrysalis being 

 destitute of wing-sheaths. Mr. B. Pickman Mann has lately shownf 

 that this is a mistake, and that, singular as it may seem, the female 

 chrysalis possesses perfect wing-sheaths, but no wings under them. 



Mr. Mann has also published some additional facts regarding this 

 insect;!; which stamp him as an admirable observer, and which add 

 much to a proper understanding of the species. 



It results from his observations, which are based on large mate- 

 rial, that we have two quite distinct but closely allied species. The 

 species orginally described as vernata by Peck, in 1795, is the smaller 

 of the two. It may be easily recognized in the light of Mr. Mann's 

 discriminations, by each of the first seven joints of the abdomen in 

 both sexes bearing two transverse rows of stiff, red, posteriorly direc- 

 ted spines; by the front wings having three transverse, dusky lines, 

 and a somewhat broader, jagged, pale submarginal line ; and by the 

 whole body in the female, as also the legs and antennae, being pubes- 

 cent with pale and dusky hairs — the abdomen having a medio-dorsal 

 black stripe. The dusky stripes on the front wings, except at costa, 

 and the black stripe on the abdomen, except at each end, are usually 

 more or less obsolete. 



The second species is somewhat larger ; the front wings of the 

 male have a distinct white spot on the front edge, and are crossed by 

 two pale jagged bands, along the sides of which there are several 

 blackish dots. The hind wings also have a pale curved line, more or 

 less distinct, across their middle. The female is uniformly dark ash- 

 gray above, paler beneath, with the antennm naked, and the legs and 

 abdomen smooth and glistening. Thus it lacks the characteristic 

 spines of vernata, the dusky marks across front wings, and the pubes- 

 cence in the female; and there are many other minor differences. 



Now the curious fact in the past history of these two insects is, 

 that Dr Harris, in his popular work on the '' Insects injurious to Veg- 



*-2iKlRcp. p. 97. 



tProc. BoHt. Soc. N. II. XVI., p. 105 



^,md, XV., i)p. ;!sl-t. ana pp. '204-8. 



