56 PARASITES OF GIPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 



Japanese parasites, and Prof. S. I. Kuwana immediately prepared 

 an important sending, which, however, was not productive, through 

 accidents in transportation. The method tried by Prof. Kuwana 

 was interesting. A small tree carrying a number of infested gipsy- 

 moth caterpillars was packed in a large wooden case with wire- 

 gauze sides; another case of small elms was shipped with the insects, 

 and they were thus supplied with fresh food from time to time as 

 far as Hawaii. The case, however, shrunk in transit, making open- 

 ings through which the parasites for the most part escaped. 



In May, 1905, the Chief of the Bureau of Entomology visited 

 Boston for conference with Mr. Kirkland, and on June 3 sailed 

 from Boston to Naples. Landing in Naples on June 13, he at once 

 proceeded to the Royal Agricultural School at Portici, some miles 

 away, and held a conference with Prof. F. Silvestri, the entomologist 

 of the college, and his principal assistant, Dr. G. Leonardi. By 

 good fortune, Prof. Silvestri was able to point out a locality in 

 Sardinia where, during 1904, there had been a severe outbreak of 

 the gipsy moth and where, therefore, during 1905 parasites could 

 with almost absolute certainty be predicted to occur in numbers. 

 With true scientific enthusiasm, both Prof. Silvestri and Dr. Leonardi 

 volunteered their assistance, and Dr. Leonardi was at once com- 

 missioned by his chief to proceed to Sardinia and to collect such 

 caterpillars as he could find and forward them in tight wooden 

 boxes, with a supply of food, to Boston. His expedition was a 

 success, and there were received from him at Boston, on the 15th 

 of July, 7 boxes, on the 26th of July 24 boxes, and on the 1st of 

 August 7 boxes, all containing valuable material, the most important 

 being a large series of living puparia of certain parasitic tachina 

 flies. 



This extremely cordial and profitable reception at Portici by 

 Prof. Silvestri and Dr. Leonardi, botli personally known to the 

 chief of the bureau from former visits, was but a foretaste of the 

 encouragement which was to be met at all points, and it may very 

 properly be said in advance that throughout the whole of the work 

 many European and Japanese entomologists, both officials and 

 private individuals, have shown an extreme liberality in their offers 

 of assistance in this great piece of experimental work, and the State 

 of Massachusetts and the United States Government are under 

 great obligations to them for their help and encouragement. For 

 the work done by Dr. Leonardi, just described, and for similar 

 work done in ensuing years, with Prof. Silvestri's permission, no 

 compensation would be accepted, and the' State of Massachusetts 

 has paid simply for the expenses, such as packing, postage,' small 

 traveling expenses, and items of that general character. 





