LETTER OF TRANSMHTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Entomology, 

 ^Ya8llington, D. C, July 26, 1901^. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for publication an 

 account of the habits of the so-called lielej), or Guatemalan cotton- 

 boll-weevil ant, prepared by Mr. O. F. Cook, and submitted, to this 

 Bureau b}^ the Chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry for the reasons 

 given in the subjoined letter. The desirabilit}^ of publishing these 

 facts at once is obvious, in spite of the fact that the ant has not as yet 

 been classified. The establishment of the colonies under proper super- 

 vision in Texas is now going on, and a careful, sj^stematic, and bio- 

 logic study will be made by Mr. Cook with a corps of expert assistants. 

 The full life history and systematic relationships of the ant will be 

 treated in a later publication. 



I recommend the publication of this paper as Bulletin No. 49, of 

 this Bureau. 



Kespectfully. L. O. Howard, 



£ntoinolo<jlst. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Sesrctary of Agriculture. 



United States Department of Ageicultuke, 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, Office of Chief of Bureau, 



Washinyton, D. C. July 26, 1904. 

 Dear Sir: On May 27 last there was published in Keport No. 78 from the Secre- 

 tary's office an article by Mr. O. F. Cook, of this Bureau, on "An Enemy of the 

 Cotton Boll Weevil." Since this publication the enemy of the weevil discovered by 

 Mr. Cook, namely, an ant from Guatemala, has been introduced into Texas. Mr. 

 Cook, in cooperation with the officers of your Bureau, is now making special studies 

 of the ant in Texas, and has submitted a further statement upon its habits. Popular 

 interest in the ant has resulted in the circulation of many fanciful statements, some 

 of which have aroused doubts regarding the desirability of introducing it into the 

 United States. So widespread is the demand for further information upon the ant 

 that the publication of some of the pertinent facts regarding its habits would seem 

 to be in order. In view of the fact that arrangements are now being made for all 

 future work on the ant to be carried on under the direction of the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology, I would respectfully suggest the immediate publication of the accompanying 

 manuscript of ]Mr. Cook as a bulletin from your Bureau. 



Respectfully, B. T. Galloway, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Dr. L. O. Howard, 



Chief Bureau of Entomology. 



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