No. 4.] THE GYPSY MOTH. 305 



The purpose of the December inspection was to continue the 

 search in all directions until the limits of the infested territory 

 should be found. In this inspection a wide belt around the infested 

 area was explored. A few egg-clusters were found in Salem, 

 Peabody, Marblehead, Beverly, Reading, Brighton, Watertown 

 and Waltham. One badly infested locality was found on Breed's 

 Island, East Boston. They were also found in Winthrop. To 

 each of these cities and towns, which had not been previously 

 examined, the moth had been disseminated in some way from one 

 to three years before the work of extermination was begun by this 

 department. 



Statements and Rumors of its Existence elsetvhere in Nero England. 



Many statements have been made from time to time during the 

 season, both by individuals and by the press, that the gypsy moth 

 had appeared in different parts of Massachusetts and in other New 

 England States. Rumors have been magnified and given the impor- 

 tance of facts. Many communications have been received both by 

 the committee and the director from persons outside the infested 

 territory, who feared they had discovered the gypsy moth on their 

 own or adjoining premises. All cases of this kind which have 

 come directly or indirectly to our notice have been fully investi- 

 gated, and the depredations noticed have always been attributable 

 to other insects. No evidence of the gypsy moth has been found. 



Toions and Cities examined where no Moths were found. 



During the season the routes of traffic and travel have been 

 carefully studied, and all clues which might lead to the discovery 

 of the moth in towns beyond the district known to be infested 

 have been followed. The following is a list of the towns and 

 cities which have been partially inspected in following these clues, 

 and in which nothing has been found : — 



Worcester, Lawrence, North Reading, 



Spencer, Brockton, Wilmington, 



Leicester, Dorchester, Bedford, 



Clinton, Centre Harbor, N. II., Concord, 



Lancaster, Athol, Lincoln, 



Milford, Gloucester, Newton, 



Ilolden, Manchester, Brookline, 



Lowell, Wenham, Wayland, 



Ashburnham, Danvers, Weston. 



