72 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



(H. D. Harvey) and less numerous at Ghent (Thomas F. 

 Hartigan) ; equally numerous at West Ta.ghkanic (S. S. Sim- 

 mons) ; there were slight changes in the infested territory at 

 Annandale (H. D. Lewis) ; hardly as abundant at Fonda (Frank 

 Jansen) ; equally abundant or more numerous at Middletown 

 (Eugene Smith) and at Mountainville (R. G. Doxey) ; twice as 

 abundant at Goshen (C. B. Coleman) ; much more numerous at 

 Schaghtiooke (Fred M. Askins) ; somewhat more numerous at 

 Highland (W. D. Tallman) ; not so abundant at Marlboro (H. 

 C. Dawes); equally numerous at Milton (A. E. Beil) ; more 

 abundant at Port Ewen (Silvanus VanAken) ; more abundant 

 at Saugerties (C. E. Davis) ; equally numerous at Walkill (J. T. 

 Halmes) and fewer at Thomson (Letitia H. Dixon). 



There were undoubtedly a number of localities where the 

 insect failed to appear this season though present in 1894. Most 

 of these might easily be explained if we knew all the facts. 

 Mr W. T. Davis,, of New Brighton, states that in 1877 there 

 were a, great many Cicadas in the garden of the home place, and 

 though the same fruit trees are standing and the conditions as 

 regards vegetation have remained practically unchanged, yet he 

 failed tO' find any of the insects the past season. He concludes 

 that they have undoubtedly been exterminated by the house 

 sparrows which have become very numerous in that section of 

 Staten Island. The destruction of forests and the death or re- 

 moval of shade and fruit trees is bound to result in the local 

 extermination of the Cicada. Many such instances have doubt- 

 less occurred in the vicinity of growing cities and villages. 

 Weak colonies are also very likely tO' become exterminated by 

 birds. Mr Silvanus VanAken of Port Ewen states that the 

 insect has failed to appear in. some localities where it occurred 

 seventeen years ago. No statement is given as to the cause. 

 Mr Eugene Smith of Middletown states that there were great 

 differences locally in the numbers of the insects. Practically 

 all the others reporting upon this question concur in stating 

 that the insect has not failed to appear in any locality where 

 it occurred in 1894. 



The relative abundance of the insects in limited localities at 

 least, is indicated by the number of holes made by the pupae 

 as they emerge from the ground. In some places the insects were 

 so numerous as to literally give a honeycombed appearance to 

 hard surfaces. This phenomenon was reported by the follow- 



