240 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITTUE. 



These specimens were submitted to Drs. Trimble and Warren, both good 

 entomologists^ who say that the limbs are pierced by the tree hoppers, or 

 ^flower crickets. The parcel marked No. 2 contains the eggs of the dusky 

 vapor moth {Orgya leuco-digma) , one of the most beautiful of insects. 

 The parcel marked No. 3 is the same which have been destroyed by ichneu- 

 mon flies, the chrysalis of which are left in place of the eggs. The protu- 

 berances on the limbs are a group of the pupa of some ichneumon fly. 

 The worm with the protuberances is seldom numerous enough to do much 

 mischief. It carries its eggs on the outside in those bunches. The male 

 is a brown moth, with wings. The female has none. If we all knew how 

 to distinguish the ichneumons and preserve them, while we destroy the 

 eggs of worms, we should soon get rid of the pests. There is one class of 

 ichneumons, said Dr. Trimble, that greatly resembles the common house 

 fly. This one has no ovipositor, and so she fastens her eggs upon the out- 

 side of the worms, into which the young ones eats as soon as batched. 

 These are God's iiitrumonts to destroy worms that are noxious to us, and 

 we ought to study them carefully. The tree hopper that has pierced these 

 limbs did so to deposit eggs to remain until warm weather in spring. This 

 leaf is fastened to the limb and cocoon by the female that laid these eggs, 

 for their protection. 



Mr. Dodge inquired if we could learn which insect to destroy and which 

 to save. 



Dr. Trimble. — "Certainly, just as easily as you can leaVn anything else, 

 by careful study." 



The ichneumon fly destroys great numbers of catterpillars; these flies 

 appear to be made on purpose to destroy catterpillars. 



Sheep Shedding Wool. 



Mr. Daniel Reed, Morenci, Lenawee county, Mich., wants to know what 

 will prevent sheep shedding their wool in winter. He says: 



" I have about one hundred sheep, which I keep in a vearm, dry stable, 

 never allowing them to get wet. I turn them out on pleasant days for 

 a few hours, and feed twice each day with clover and timothy; with a 

 small quantity of corn once each day, 'with a good supply of water; and 

 yet my sheep commence to shed their wool badly. Can you give the • 

 reason ? I do not think there is any disease among them; they all look 

 first rate, and seem to do well." 



Mr. Solon Robinson says that one of the best remedies for this disease, 

 for it is as much a disease as any other, that he has ever tried, is feeding 

 the flock plentifully with turnips. 



Perhaps some of our outside members can give the cause and cure of the 

 disease. If so, it will be acceptabla to a great many young shepherds, 

 particularly in the West, where the complaint is more common than at the 

 East. 



ACCLIMITATION. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — It is stated that not until the sixth century wheat 

 was first sown in England. Up to the sixteenth century Englishmen grew 

 few fruits and vegetables. Wliat they consumed were imported. Their 

 chief food consisted of bread, beef and mutton. Nearly all the favorite 



