102 TRANSACTIONS OF TEn3 AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



converging-. The rows are about one-sixteenth of an inch long-, and there 

 are from six to eight eggs in a row. 



" I might write you more fully, but for the probability that your State 

 entomologist, Asa Fitch, has already, as he proposed doing, described the 

 punctures, the insect, and a parasitic fly whose larva feeds upon the eggs 

 of the ' tree-hopper,' specimens of all of which I forwarded to him in the 

 season of 1858." 



The Rev. W. C. French, of Oberlin, Ohio, writes as follows: 



"One morning last full, after a heavy blow in the night preceding, I 

 found my finest raspbery canes broken off in the middle. At first I sup- 

 posed it was the effect of the wind, but upon examination I find them all 

 perforated as if stung by locusts. I inclose specimens. Will I be likely 

 to lose them again this year, and is there any remedy ?" 



Dr. Trimble. — From the appearance of the specimens, I judge it is the 

 same insect so well described in Mr. Howe's letter. We do not know any 

 remedy, and there is no certainty 'that because the insect was there last 

 year it will be there again this year. 



Ilere is a more serious pest, which appears to be rapidly extending. If 

 there are any present who have not examined the asparagus beetle and 

 the manner it attaches its eggs to the stalk, here are some samples. The 

 beetle is a pretty tri-colored one, and its eggs are dark colored and at- 

 tached singly by the ends to the branches. 



Mr. Solon Robinson read the following extract from ITie London Medical 

 Times, as pertinent to this question: 



Birds as Destroyers of Insects. 



" A distinguished naturalist, M. Florent Prevost, conceived the idea 

 that it would be a matter of great interest to collect, at different periods 

 of the year, the stomach of every description of bird he was enabled to 

 procure, to examine and preserve its contents. This collection, com- 

 menced 35 years since, has now reached a considfsrable size. The stomach, 

 opened and dried, together with their contents, are fixed on card-board, 

 upon which are inscribed, beside the name of the species of the bird, the 

 indication of the locality and the date of its death, together with the 

 names of the animals or plants which have been recognized as forming 

 part of the contents of the stomach. It results from these researches that 

 birds are in general far more useful than hurtful to the agriculturist, and 

 that the mischief done at certain periods by the granivorous species, is 

 largely compensated by the consumption of insects they effect at other 

 periods." 



A conversation then followed upon the usefulness of birds to farmers in 

 this country, particularly crows and quails. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter said that since birds have been allowed to increase 

 in that part of Westchester county, where my farm lies, I am satisfied in- 

 sects have decreased, and fruit increased. 



Th^ Measuring Worm — How Long Has It Been Here ? 



John G. Bergen inquired if any one knew the date of the appearance of 

 the measuring worm in this city and Brooklyn. 



