Cossidse 



The eggs are generaiiy laid near the crotch of the. tree, and 

 watch should be kept in the spring of the year to detect their 

 presence and destroy them before they are hatched. 



Genus COSSUS Fabricius 



The genus is found on both sides of the Atlantic. Cossus 

 cossus Linnaeus is a large species which does great damage to 

 trees in Europe. As I am writing, my friend, Dr. Ortmann, relates 

 that when he was a boy of eleven, living in his native village in 

 Thuringia, his attention was called to a notice posted by the 

 Biirgermeister offering a reward for information which would lead 

 to the detection and punishment of the individuals who by boring 

 into the trunks of a certain fine avenue of birch-trees, upon which 

 the place prided itself, had caused great injury to them. Already 

 the instincts of the naturalist had asserted themselves, and the 

 prying eyes of the lad had found out the cause of the trouble. 

 He went accordingly to the office of the Biirgermeister and in- 

 formed him that he could tell him all about the injury to the trees. 

 The official sat wide-mouthed and eager to hear. "But you 

 must assure me, before I tell you, that the reward you offer will 

 surely be paid to me." "Yes, yes, my little man; do not be in 

 doubt on that score. You shall certainly be paid." "Well, 

 then, Herr Biirgermeister, the holes from which the sap is flowing 

 were not made by boys who were after the birch-sap to make beer, 

 but by the Weidenbohrer." 1 A small explosion of official 

 dignity followed. The act of the presumptuous boy was reported 

 to a stern parent, and the result was, in Yankee phrase, a "lick- 

 ing," which was certainly undeserved. 



(i) Cossus centerensis Lintner, Plate XII, Fig. I, 6 . 



The insect is quite rare. It is found in the Atlantic States. 



(2) Cossus undosus Lintner, Plate XLI, Fig. 9, ? . 



Syn. bmcei French. 



The moth occurs in the region of the Rocky Mountains. The 

 specimen figured was taken on the Arkansas River in Colorado, 

 near Canyon City. 



It is undoubtedly the most attractively marked and most ele- 

 gant species found in our territory. 



1 The common German name for the Cossus. 



311 



