SEAECH FOR HIBERNATING INDIVIDUALS. 101 



chrysalid cases (which were still abundant) we found empty, with every indication of 

 the insect having matured and escaped. A limited number we found apparently un- 

 changed, and started back rejoicing that we had been able to replace those destroyed 

 by the bird ; but, alas, upon accidentally crushing one, we found within it an ich- 

 neumon, and this proved to be the case with all we had collected. Some of the ich- 

 neumons had completed their transformation, and were about to come out as perfect 

 insects. 



Many planters believe that they hare seen the adult during winter 

 and early spring. But in every instance when such moths have been 

 sent to an entomologist they have proved to belong to some other spe- 

 cies than Aletia argillacea. Many moths were sent to this department 

 during the past winter, by persons supposing them to be cotton-moth ; 

 but in every instance, with one possible exception, they proved to be- 

 long to other species. The only instance where there is any doubt is in 

 the case of some moths collected by Judge J. F. Baily, of Marion, Ala. 

 Eespecting these moths, Judge Baily writes : 



They appeared the last days of February in swarms, about dusk, around the 

 roofs of the houses, as if they had come from the shingles as winter quarters. Since 

 their first appearance in February, I have seen them every pleasant evening, in the 

 twilight, sporting first around the plum blooms, and then around the peach, the mock- 

 orange, the Chinese quince, and other blooms. 



Specimens of the moths were sent to Prof. E. A. Smith, to wh6m the 

 letter from which we have just quoted was addressed. Professor Smith 

 forwarded the specimens to the department, but they never reached their 

 destination. At a later date Professor Smith writes : 



I am sorry you did not receive the moths which I sent yon from Judge Baily. They 

 were very much rubbed, and I could not be sure about them, still they did not appear 

 to me to be the cotton-moth. 



At a still later date Professor Smith wrote : 



I have just returned from a trip to Marion, where I saw Judge Baily. Judge Baily 

 has never since that time seen any of the moths which were so abundant a month or 

 two ago; he will try his best to collect ay moth that resembles Aletia, and I think if 

 it visits his neighborhood he will observe it. I am very doubtful if what he sent 

 me and I sent to you was the true cotton-moth ; it resembled Leucania unipuncta. 



During the winter of 1878-'79 the following named local observers for 

 this department were on the look out for living pupae or adults of A. 

 argillacea: Professor Willet, at Macon, Ga.; Professor Smith, at Tusca- 

 loosa, Ala.; Dr. Anderson, at Kirk wood, Miss., and Judge Jones ? at Vir- 

 ginia Point, Tex. ]^ot one of these gentlemen was successful. Profes- 

 sor Smith, in particular, made great exertions to obtain specimens of 

 the adult. He had sweetened mixtures for attracting moths exposed 

 during the entire winter ; but although he constantly obtained other 

 moths, as already stated, not a single Aletia was found. It is important 

 to note that Professor Smith's observations were made at a point which 

 may be farther north than the cotton-moth can hibernate. But in the 

 latter part of December Professor Willet made a trip to Southern Georgia, 

 where a careful search was rewarded only by a few dead pupae and 

 many empty pupa-skins; the latter were found in dead wood and under 



