120 THIRTIETH REPORT ON THE STATE MUSEUM. [8] 



presence within the apple indicates its previous existence in 

 the worm. It could not have taken possession of the worm 

 while the apple was attached to the tree, for its structure 

 would not admit of its ascending the trunk and branches 

 of the tree. Should a wonderful instinct lead it to seek its 

 prey through the closely packed excremental matter filling 

 the worm-holes of the " wind-falls " lying on the ground, then 

 the worm in its exit from the fruit, usually very soon after 

 the apple falls, would carry its guest away with it, instead of 

 leaving it behind to excite our wonder and perhaps alarm 

 several months thereafter. Damp cellars would seem to be 

 an appropriate habitat for the Mermis, but its abode within 

 the stored apples would naturally be more brief in this case 

 than in the preceding, the latest worms at this time having 

 attained or being near their maturity. Without the labor of 

 penetrating the apple, its prey could much more conveniently 

 be found in -the unchanged larvae hidden often in immense 

 numbers between the boards of the apple-bins or beneath the 

 barrel hoops within a cocoon too slight to offer any material 

 resistance to the entrance of so thread-like an organism. 



The interesting inquiry also arises, is this the first state of 

 parasitism in the cycle of the Mermis' history, or, as would 

 seem more probable, has it already undergone its first trans- 

 formation from its ]arval to its perfect form within the body 

 of some other animal, totally unlike our apple-worm 1 It is 

 to be hoped that Dr. Leidy's observations have enabled him 

 satisfactorily to solve these several enigmas. 



As an aid to the development of the history of the interest- 

 ing animal, it will be of service if as full statements as pos- 

 sible be obtained of the conditions under which it has occurred 

 in each instance in Orange county the present season the 

 first knowledge we have of its presence in the apple, or any 

 other fruit. Was it found invariably in worm-eaten apples ; 

 and if so, had the fruit been much or little eaten ? Were any 

 remains of the Carpocapsa-worm noticed as associated with it ? 

 Were any living apple-worms seen in the apples eaten during 

 the winter ? Where and in what manner were the apples 

 stored in which the Mermis was present ? Can it be ascer- 

 tained if the infested apples were hand-picked or " wind-falls ? " 



Any replies to the above, or such additional information as 

 may promise to be of service, will be thankfully received at 

 the State Museum. 



