322 Forty-first Report on the State Museum. 



Harvest Fly. (Country Grentleman, for September 1, 1887, Hi, p. 674, 

 c. 3 — 5 cm.) 



Identification of Cicada tibicen — the common harvest-fly, improperly 

 known as a locust, with brief notice of its distribution from New York 

 to Brazil ; its annual appearance about the commencement of the dog- 

 days ; its shrilling noise, and the apparatus by which produced ; its 

 transformations, occupying two or three years, unlike the Cicada 

 septendecim which requires seventeen years ; its split pupal-cases often 

 met with on the trunks of the trees. 



Elm-leaf Spraying. (Country Gentleman, for September 8, 1887, lii, 

 p. 694, c. 2-3—10 cm.) 



In reply to an inquiry for a force pump for spraying elm trees, state-, 

 ment is made that a powerful pump is desirable that the liquid may be 

 taken from a tank, and distributed through a rubber hose of suitable 

 length and a "bamboo extension rod," as recommended in the U. S. 

 Agricultural Eeport of 1881-82. The best nozzle to apply to the rod 

 would be the "Nixon;" made at Dayton, Ohio, by A. H. Nixon. 

 Bulletin No. 10, of the Division of Entomology, is referred to as giving 

 method of elm-tree spraying practiced in Washington, D. C. 



Pests of the Pomologist. (The Boston Herald, for September 16, 

 1887, p. 3—11 cols.) 



Abstract of an address delivered before the American Pomological 

 Society, at its meeting at Boston, September 15, 1887, treating of plant 

 diseases and insect ravages, as the result of the present extended culti- 

 vation of fruit; great increase of fruit-pests from importation and 

 changed food-habits, as shown in the fruit pests of California, and 

 notably the "fluted scale;" the number of insect pests; importance of 

 their study ; some requisites of the successful fruit grower. The same 

 in the Albany Sunday Express for October 2, 1887, p. 2, c. 4-5 — 1| cols. 



A Queer Foe to the Caterpillar. (New England Homestead, for 

 October 1, 1887, p. 354, c. 3—13 cm.) 



A Sphinx caterpillar having its body nearly covered with small, white 

 parasitic cocoons, is the Darapsa Myron of the grapevine. The 

 method of attack of the hymenopterous parasite, Apanteles congre- 

 gatus is described, together with the development of the grubs within 

 the body of the caterpillar, and externally within their cocoons. The 

 cocoons are often mistaken for eggs. Caterpillars ichneumonized 

 in this manner often have their larval stage considerably prolonged. 



The Yalue of Crustaceans as Food for Fishes. (The American Angler 

 for October 8, 1887, p. 235 — 31cm.) 



In addition to the species and families of Crustacea named, — amoDg 

 the insects, May-flies, Phryganid larvee and other aquatic larvae are 

 noticed, as very desirable food for fishes. 



