LEPIDOPTERA 



81 



FIG. 79. Photograph of mature forest tent-caterpillars on their tent. One 

 third natural size. 



pillar about an inch and a half long, feeds upon many kinds 

 of trees and plants. Had prompt measures been used in 

 the early seventies, the plague might have been exter- 

 minated, but owing to ignorance on the part of the legisla- 

 tors, no organized fight was made against the devastator 

 until 1890. For holding in check this pest, the Massa- 

 chusetts legislature appropriated in 1893 one hundred 



