314 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



should embrace in the article Geometra in the edition which he 

 expected, but, alas! did not live to edit, would have received 

 the attention it demands. Such an omission is the more impor- 

 tant, as the means declared beneficial in the attempts to remove 

 the geometra are in the case of this species perfectly useless. 



It is apparent, from what has already been said, that in order 

 to exterminate this pestiferous nuisance, some other means must 

 be adopted than those hitherto employed. In some remarks 

 which I have elsewhere made upon this subject, some year or two 

 since, I proposed that a light should be placed, during the few 

 evenings when these millers are about, before a tarred screen ; 

 that being attracted, and flying towards the light, they might 

 dash against and be permanently attached thereto. Some imper- 

 fect experiments have led me to think that these lights, particu- 

 larly in the cities, where there is so much illumination, would be 

 of doubtful efficacy in attra,cting these millers, whose natural 

 traits are stronger than their curiosity. 



But two methods remain which would be effectual. The first 

 would be a bounty, which would be paid by the city council most 

 cheerfully, if proper representations were made to them, for the 

 worms themselves, and also for the millers. A dime or two a 

 pint would be a great temptation to idle boys to collect them; 

 and thus an immense number would be destroyed, and in a very 

 few years the city would be completely freed from them. If it 

 is of sufficient importance for the city to offer a bounty for the 

 destruction of the superfluous dogs of the city, stimulated by an 

 imaginary idea of their getting rabid during the summer, surely 

 a slight reward for the destruction of a nuisance, upon which so 

 much depends, will be easily granted by our intelligent city 

 officials, whose duty it is to contribute in every way to the hap- 

 piness of the citizens. 



A second way is to promote their destruction by birds. In the 

 country, where these sweet warblers are numerous, there is no 

 such utter destruction effected as here, where but few birds are 

 seen. The common council would here again gladly pass strin- 

 gent laws for the protection of birds, severely punishing anybody 

 who shall shoot, throw stones, or otherwise molest the birds, or 

 disturb the eggs and nests in the parks, streets, and public or 

 private grounds of the city. Next they should be petitioned to 

 increase the number of birds on the island, by placing in all our 

 parks suitable boxes for the breeding of these birds ; should 



