DISAPPEARANCE OF THE LAST BROOD. 95 



found not one where there were eggs a week to ten days ago. There were plenty of 

 grown larvae when we returned here, September 15, and a few pupae and moths. The 

 caterpillars diminished gradually till about October 1, since which time there have 

 been only occasional stragglers. The pupae increased to about same date, and moths 

 came out very numerously from October 1 to 5; more sparingly afterwards. The 

 abundance of pupae and moths foreshadowed a good brood of caterpillars which will 

 never appear, even if we have no frost to-night. Northeasters have prevailed during 

 the mouth, though without frost. It has been very dry. The thermometer was 51 

 on Sunday and 50 this morning the coldest day. The cotton leaves are old and 

 speckled, except the new young leaves here and there, which are fresh and green. 



OCTOBER 19. 



I sent you a few pupae and some moths in chloral solution yesterday, supposing they 

 would be the last. But there was very little frost last night, and I visited another 

 field to-day, where the cotton was planted later and is younger, and, being on well- 

 manured ground, is fresher, greener, and more vigorous. Here the situation is some- 

 what less advanced than in the field sent from last. 



Thermometer at sunrise, 39. Wind northwest. Slight frost; cotton plant in- 

 jured. A few moths, flying rather feebly from cold. A few eggs, some fresh ; some 

 straggling larvae, mostly nearly full fed a few half grown, and two only J inch long, 

 the only young ones I have seen for some time. The cotton plant still quite green and 

 vigorous and blooming ; wasps sucking freely at the glands our social subterranean 

 wasp, called "yellow-jacket." 



OCTOBER 26. 



I visited the field to-day from which I sent you specimens on the 19th. There was 

 a slight frost on that morning (19th) as I wrote; thermometer 39 F. There was a 

 similar one next morning, 20th ; thermometer 38. 5 P. At a point not far from the 

 field (Pio Nono College, which reports to the Signal Office), I understand the register- 

 ing minimum there stood at 33. Cotton partially killed in places ; worst where the 

 worms were. Very dry. I send you two boxes of specimens, one box containing a 

 few Aletia, moths caught in the field and 30 or 40 pupae, the other a dozen or so living 

 Aletia argillacea larvae. 



Situation. Cotton foliage much reduced by age and cold, but still some young green 

 leaves and some blooms. A few Aletia eggs, two or three seen ; fewer than a week ago. 

 No young larvae, none less than three-quarters grown ; a few pupae, and about as many 

 moths as a week ago, most of them apparently just out. 



NOVEMBER 2. 



We had ice and temperature of 31. 5 F. yesterday, and white frost and temperature 

 33 F. this morning. The cotton plant is dead. Will write you more fully in a day 

 or two. 



NOVEMBER 7. 



The moths continued to be found in the fields, most abundantly near the patches 

 most eaten, where they were daily coming out from pupae, certainly till October 26 ; 

 November 1, when the freeze occurred, not one was scared up. I have sethi no differ- 

 ence in the habits of the last brood of worms here in webbing up or seeking quarters. 



DECEMBER 11. 



I intended placing some chrysalides and moths of Aletia argillacea in boxes and ex- 

 posing them, with fair protection, through the winter, to see whether they could pass 

 the winter here alive. I soon found, before frost, that it was impracticable then, 

 as the former would come out and the latter die from the warmth. Frost caught me 

 in this quandary. I then gathered, November 4, a lot of chrysalides (the moths had 

 disappeared) and, on examining them, found them in so unsatisfactory condition, that 

 I concluded not to expose them. About two dozen were placed in a box in my sitting 



