23i SM.VLL ANIMALS AND INSECTS. [Chap. II. 



cocoon, formed of a few thin fibers of silk, in the crevices of the bark of the 

 trees which it frequents, or upon posts and fences near the tree. There tlie 

 insect may then be found, undergoing its change. After about a fortniglit, 

 it conies forth in the shape of a white moth, somewhat less than an inch 

 long. At that period our parks and public squares are alive with these 

 millers; the grass is studded, the paths covered, the air filled with them. 

 Any one may easily satisfy himself of their power of flight by a careful ob- 

 servation of them. The antennce, or feelers, projecting from the head, are in 

 the males feathered, or, entomologically, pectinated ,■ a row of fine fibers, 

 like the teeth of a comb, lines each antenna upon one side ; the females have 

 the antenna plain and straight ; and they may also be distinguished by the 

 larger size of the abdomen, which is distended by eggs. No difference, 

 however, in the i>ower of flight will be observed between the two sexes. On 

 coming out from the cocoon the sexes meet, and the impregnated eggs are at 

 once laid upon the bark of the tree. They may be seen in j^atches, varying 

 from a dozen to fifty, or even more — minute, green globules, which soon change 

 to a dusky gray or brown, scarcely distinguishable in tint from the bark. 

 They adhere by a glutinous secretion very firmly to the tree, and remain 

 through the year until the warmth of another spring hatches them into life. 



" At anj' time after the eggs arc laid in the beginning of July, and before 

 they are hatched in the beginning of the following May, a careful scraping 

 of the tree will remove most of them, and so prevent their ravages for the 

 next summer. 



" Having frequent occasion to pass through Washington Parade Ground, 

 I have ])ointed out the eggs upon the bark to the persons intrusted with the 

 care of that spot, and the trees have been sometimes scraped in the spring, 

 with very good results. This year it was omitted, and the deserted shells 

 of the eggs of last year may now be seen on the trunks of the trees so seri- 

 ously injured by them this summer. No other method than this affords the 

 least security ; but this, if faithfully carried out under any competent super- 

 vision, can be made entirely effectual. The eggs remain for nearly a year 

 before thej' are hatched, quite obvious, and tolerably accessible. A couple 

 of men would in two or three days clean any one of our parks of this de- 

 stroying agent for the next summer ; and careful attention for a few years 

 throughout the city would nearly exterminate the pest." 



256. Garden and Field Crop Pests. — The amount of damage done to farmers 

 every year by bugs and worms, if it could be exhibited in figures represent- 

 ing dollars and cents, would exceed the whole value of the wheat crop, or 

 com crop, or cotton crop, and it would not surprise me if it exceeded the 

 value of all of them. If we could give certain preventives of the ravages 

 of any one of the pests, we could afford to devote much more space than we 

 shall allot to this head. But we will urge farmers to give the subject more 

 attention. Buy the best works upon entomology, and devote many a winter 

 evening to the careful study of the appearance, character, and habits of all 



