215 



was caused by 14ie squirrels seizing aud biting out the testicles of tbeir 

 comrades. In support of this idea he gives the testimony of Mr. 

 Hurst, taxidermist of the jS^ew York State Cabinet of Natural History, 

 who claimed to have seen a half dozen red squirrels unite in mastering 

 a gray one and castrating him. Dr. Fitch queries whether the bot-fly 

 may not be attracted by the wound so made, if this habit prove com- 

 mon, but concludes that the object of the joint attack of several upon 

 one is rather to kill the grab which is engaged in emasculating him. 



Unfortunately there is yet some doubt as to whether Fitch's species, 

 will hold. Brauer, in his Monograph of the CEstridie, page 232, quotes 

 Fitch's description at length, and states that he can not separate the 

 species from Cuterebra scutellaris Low, a North American species, the 

 habits of which do not seem to be known. 



If this interesting insect has not attracted much attention of late years 

 from entomologists, it has not failed to be noticed by zoologists and tax- 

 idermists, although we are not aware that observations have been pub- 

 lished. The following statement was written at our request by Dr. 

 Merriam, the Ornithologist of the Department, as we had learned by 

 conversation that he had made notes some years ago on the abundance 

 of the insect in New York State : 



In reply to your inquiry concerning the occurrence of Cuterebrpe in squirrels, I 

 would state that during mauy years collecting in the Adirondack region of northern 

 New York, particularly along its western border, in the Black River Valley, I fre- 

 quently found Cuterebne in or near the scrotum in the Gray Squirrel (Sciurus caroli- 

 nensis leucotis), Red Squirrel (Sciurus liudsonius), and Chipmunk (Tamiasstnatiis lysteri). 

 I have observed the same thing at East Hampton, Mass., and in other localities. The 

 most extraordinary instance of the prevalence of this disgusting parasite that has 

 fallen under my observation was at the south end of Lake Champlain, New York, in 

 October, 1885. On the 7th and 9th of that month I killed mora than fifty Chipmunks 

 {Tamias stnntiis hjsteri) within a few miles of old Fort Ticonderoga aud on the rocky 

 side hill behind the town of Whitehall. Of these a very large percentage — I think 

 fully one-half — were infested with "wabbles " (Cuterebrse). More females than males 

 were thus afflicted. The " wabbles" were usually situated near the median line, and 

 anywhere from the umbilical region to the genitals. In a few cases they were in the 

 axilla, and in one or two instances in the upper part of the foreleg. In a number of 

 individuals two Cuterebrse were found and in a few cases as many as three. 



Dr. A. K. Fisher tells me that h© collected a number of Chipmuu'ss about the south 

 end of Lake George, Warren County, N. Y., during the latter part of August and 

 tirst of September, 1882, a considerable proportion of which were infested with 

 Cuterebrse. As many as three were found, in different stages of development, in one 

 animal. A Gray Squirrel killed at Sing Sing, Westchester County, N. Y., contained a 

 Cuterebra in the left pectoral region. 

 Respectfully, 



C. Hart Merriam, 



Ornilhologist. 



It is very possible that the larvae of more than one species of the 

 genus Cuterebra were concerned in the cases noticed by Drs. Merriam 

 and Fislier, but this point can not be decided at the present time. 

 14174— Xo. 7 2 



