‘G24 THE COTTON WORM. 
The region over which, during five seasons, I have observed the 
cotton worm, embraces the central portion of the cotton belt in 
_ the states of Georgia and Alabama, and in particular the counties 
of Marengo and Greene, lying along the Tombigbee and Black 
Warrior rivers. There cotton is planted in March and April, 
blooms in June and July, and perishes in November or with the 
frost. The earliest period at which I have noticed the young 
worm was the last week in June, and its usual appearance was in 
July, sometimes as late as the latter part of the month. Its date 
of appearance was irregular, and never accurately coincided in any 
two seasons. Sometimes it seemed as though we were “not going 
to have any worm at all this year,” a remark suggested by hope and 
the tardiness of its advent. My observations have been mainly 
directed to the question of the origination of the first brood and 
have led me to record the following results. I have observed that 
the appearance of the worm in the fields was always heralded by 
flights of the moth, which came to light in houses at least a week 
before the worm was noticed on the plants. I have observed that 
the distribution of the first brood was irregular; the worms occur- 
ring here and there over miles of country, while infesting some 
plantations, skipping unaccountably others which the second 
brood, however, seldom failed to reach. I have noted that the worm 
was always heard of to the southward at first, and never to the | 
northward, of any given locality in the cotton belt. Finally, ; 
after diligent search, no traces of the insect in any stage could 
be found by me during the months preceding the appearance of 
the first brood heralded by the moth, and after the cotton was 
above the ground. The broods themselves were consecutive and 
without interruption so long as the conditions were favorable. J 
The last brood, in years where the worm was numerous, eat op a 
every portion of the plant that was at all soft, flowers, the ae : 
tent calyx, the very young boll, the terminal shoots. The | 
rood of worms changed into chrysalides in myriads on the leafless 
stems, clinging by their few threads as best they might, and Le 
‘losed the moth in the face of the frost, many of the chrysalid®” 
perishing. Afterwards, on sunny winter days, I have noticed 
live moth about gin houses and fodder stacks, or the negro aie : 
Was this a true ‘‘hibernation” or merely an accidental surviv 
‘The locality and the condition seem to me alike artificial. ie 
Now Hübner describes the ‘moth of the cotton worm at 
