io6 LETTERS TO MR. SERVICE [CHAP. xm. 



and another narrower pale stripe or line runs lower down 

 along each side."] 



To Robert Service, Esq., Maxwelltown, Dumfries. 



TORRINGTON HOUSE, ST. ALBANS, 



August i, 1894. 



DEAR SIR, It is many years since you gave me any of 

 your good observations, but indeed I would gladly have 

 profited by them, and it was only lately that I knew you 

 were continuing them. Perhaps Mr. Bailey, the editor, 1 

 may have mentioned to you that I was so struck with the 

 paper which he sent me, in which you mention C. graminis, 

 that interpreting the nom de plume (" Mabie Moss ") literally, 

 I wrote to him expressing my admiration and asking if I 

 might be put in communication with the writer ; and now 

 may I prefer the request to yourself that, if you please, you 

 will kindly tell me anything you are inclined to favour me 

 with about this recent outbreak of the C. graminis. Would it 

 not be of great interest if we could make out something more 

 about the parasites ? There are, firstly, the threadworms 

 Mermis. Do you chance to have identified them ? I have 

 got no further than the specialist to whom I sent specimens, 

 thinking they were most likely Mermis albicans but this 

 he was going to investigate. Then there is the bacterian 

 infestation the " flacherie," 2 as they call it in silk-worms. 

 This seems to me of great practical interest ; and, thirdly, 

 the larval parasitism of the C. graminis larvae. I had so 

 exceedingly few specimens that I could not work up the 

 matter, but, whilst one cocoon sent to me appeared to be 

 that of an Ichneumon, the only large larva which I found 

 certainly in many respects resembled that of a Tachina fly. 

 I should greatly like, if agreeable to yourself, to hear from 

 you again on entomological matters. Besides the pleasure, 

 it is a great advantage to me to have contributions of skilled 

 and experienced information, and I would indeed most 

 scrupulously acknowledge to whom I was indebted. 



August 3, 1894. 



I am much obliged to you for taking the trouble to send 

 the morsels of C. graminis caterpillars. As you say, I am 

 afraid we could hardly get results from them, but still with 

 bacteria presence I do not know but dried bits may show 

 something when moistened, so I am keeping them for the 



1 Of the " Dumfries Herald and Courier." 

 52 Pisease caused by Micrococcus bombycis. 



