43 



many as a dozen could be seen at one time, but of all the hundreds seen 

 very few were dead. They were usually in a half circle and completely 

 dry above and were carried off to be distributed safely along the shores. 

 In both cases I had no opportunity to obtain specimens for identifica- 

 tion. 



As to the parasites, so far two species of a small Chalcid were bred 

 from 37 egg masses of C. constricta found within three hours while col- 

 lecting Oynipid galls in Sonoma County during October. This species 

 is preyed upon by Tachina flies, which are or have been, the present 

 season, the chief agent in destroying them. From about two hundred 

 grown larvae collected but very few moths were obtained, the Tachina 

 maggots issuing from the dying and spun-up larvae in large numbers. 

 No ground for their reception had been furnished in breeding cases and 

 they pupated among the leaves and excrement. At least 80 per cent 

 of these larvae were parasitized and but one of the flies has issued up 

 to date. I also obtained one large cocoon of an Ichneumonid from 

 larvae in confinement and others were still found in nature during Sep- 

 tember. 



C. thoracica was also infested by Tachina larvae, but only about 

 30 per cent, were destroyed by these maggots. Two species of the flies 

 have come out so far. C. califomica was noticed full of eggs of these 

 flies and some had previously been bred. An Ichneumonid was ob- 

 tained from young larvae the present year. Professor Eivers, of 

 Berkeley, informed me the end of April that he had previously ob- 

 served one of these larvae at Bay Yiew upon Willow, and accordingly 

 a trip was made to that locality and this species was found as well as 

 its tents, not alone upon Willow, but also on the scrubby Live Oaks 

 growing there, Hazel, Wild Currant, Bhamnus califomica, Blackberry, 

 and other plants, showing that this species is not confined to Live Oak 

 alone. 



No Tachina has yet been obtained from the species in Santa Cruz 

 Mountains, nor have I observed any eggs, but larvae of this species 

 placed upon Cherry and Prune at Alameda were badly attacked. The 

 same species of Ichneumonid bred from larvae of C. califomica has also 

 been obtained from this. This species was observed upon Plum, Prune, 

 Willow, Ceanothus and Cercocarpus. 



Two species of Ichneumonids were bred from the new species of the 

 north, one from larvae found at Tacoma, and the second from those 

 found at Easton. 



I may mention one Noctuid larva as very destructive to buds, young 

 fruit, and foliage of fruit trees, chiefly Apple, Pear, Plum, and Prune. 

 This is Tceniocampa, and I have full proof that the destruction of a 

 large share of the buds and young fruit, so universally, yet incorrectly, 

 attributed to birds on this coast, is due to this larvae. In the very 

 early spring, often in February, these moths make their appearance 

 from hibernated chrysalids and copulate, and the female deposits her 



