28 



believed it is possible to eradicate the pest. The utmost 

 efforts for this end are being put forth by those having the 

 work in charge. 



On a recent visit of inspection by Dr. Fernald his attention 

 was called to the eggs which a native parasite was laying 

 upon the bodies of the caterpillars. In his report to the 

 committee June 26, 1891, he says: " AVhat seems to nie 

 to be by far the most important result of our inspection was 

 the discovery of parasites on the caterpillars. In one locality 

 in Arlington, where we found the caterpillars numerous, we 

 discovered the eggs of a dipterous insect, probably a 

 Tachina, on many of them, the majority having a single 

 white eg^i, on the back, while some had two or three, or 

 more, and on one there were eight eggs. I collected a large 

 number of these infested caterpillars and requested Mr. 

 Forbush to have them properly cared for at the office. If 

 these eggs hatch and the parasites pass their transformations 

 and destroy the caterpillars of the gypsy moth, we shall 

 have an acclimated parasite of greater value than any foreign 

 species could be, and shall avoid the delicate and expensive 

 operation of importing parasites from Europe." 



