CANKBK-WOBM. 105 



approaches a few straggling moths may be, seen issuing from the dead 

 grass around the foot of the tree, or from under the scales of bark where 

 they have found shelter during the day. But as the darkness deepens 

 the activity becomes general, and soon the trunks of the trees become 

 alive with the multitudes of ascending moths of both sexes; the wing- 

 less females eagerly making their way up the trunk, attended by flocks 

 of the winged males. Sometimes a female will be wholly hidden from 

 sight under two or three superincumbent males, and her presence is 

 only known by ^he steady upward progress of the fluttering mass, as 

 she presses onward up the steep ascent, though burthened within and 

 encumbered without, scarcely pausing for love's dalliance by the way, 

 but dragging her partner along with her, urged by an irresistible im- 

 pulse toward the accomplishment of the one grand purpose of her 

 being: the deposition of the germs of her future progeny on the 

 branches above, where her young, as soon as they are hatched, will be 

 in the midst of their appropriate food. 



March 16. — Weather much changed ; but little above freezing ; raw 

 and misty. Examined the moths at dark, but only one here and there 

 could be seen moving. 



March IT. — Evening clear and cool. Mercury at 44°. Moths mov- 

 ing in considerable numbers, and upon those trees where bands of tin 

 and hay had been put around the trunks, many moths were found con- 

 gregated below the obstructions. 



March 25. — Since the last date the weather has been very cold for 

 the season, freezing at night and moderating but little by day. I have 

 visited the orchard but once, and that in the day time. This evening, 

 the weather having moderated, mercury at 43°, cloudy, wind east, I 

 went out to the infested orchard an hour after dark. Moths still run- 

 ning, but noticed mostly below the obstructing bands. 



April 7. — Weather since last date rather cold for the season. I have 

 examined the moths a few times, but no observations of importance 

 have been made. To-day has been very warm, mercury up to 80° ; 

 visited the orchard an hour after dark ; counted thirty moths on one 

 tree below the band ; examined other trees upon which there was no 

 obstruction. Upon only one of them a few moths were found moving, 

 just enough to show that some stragglers continue to ascend the trees 

 as late as the first week of April. 



NUMBER OF EGGS AND PLACE OF DEPOSIT. 



The female Canker-worm moths difl'er much in size, varying as we 

 have stated from two to five-tenths of an inch in length, and the num- 



