SCATTERED EGGS. 291 



laying. The most marked cases of egg-scattering were those 

 where the moth did not first form a hairy area on which to 

 deposit eggs. Observations made on the egg-scattering of 

 fifteen gypsy moths, ten in the insectary and five on trunks 

 of trees in the field, showed that all of them scattered eggs, 

 some of which were dropped before the moth mated and 

 others afterwards. The number of eggs scattered by these 

 insects ranged from one to thirty-four, the average being 

 nine and three-fourths. Male moths, when numerous, in 

 attempting to mate with females while they are laying, often 

 disturb them to such an extent as to cause them to drop or 

 scatter eggs. Eggs scattered by fertilized females have 

 proved to be fertile. Observations made in the field show 

 that many eggs are scattered by the moths when laying 

 under the most natural conditions. In one colony in Sau- 

 gus, in 1894, the greatest number of egg-clusters were on 

 the rough bark of pine trees, and many scattered eggs were 

 found at the base of these trees among the pine needles. 

 Nearly all of these eggs were naked, and in many cases they 

 were loose, though some were attached to pine needles or to 

 fragments of bark at the base of the trees. Scattered eggs 

 were also found in crevices of the rough bark below the 

 clusters. Eighty-five per cent, of the scattered eggs taken 

 at this place proved to be fertile. This scattering of eggs 

 doubtless explains why caterpillars occur in places where 

 the eggs on the trees have been destroyed the previous 

 winter, and indicates the value of burlapping as a supple- 

 ment to the work of egg destruction. 



RESISTANCE or EGGS OF THE GYPSY MOTH TO THE ACTION 



OF THE ELEMENTS. 



In January, 1895, a number of egg-clusters were thor- 

 oughly broken up, so that the eggs were entirely separated, 

 and as much of the hair removed as possible. The eggs 

 from each cluster were then placed in a small paper box 

 which was covered with two thicknesses of thin, open cheese- 

 cloth. Six of the clusters were placed underneath the store- 

 house, where they were sheltered from storms, but otherwise 

 wholly exposed to all climatic changes ; and, to determine 

 the effect of the actual out-door exposure, six more egg- 



