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an Agrilus larva. Numerous infested twigs were collected, but I failed 
to breed an adult. The same thing was subsequently found killing 
the twigs on oaks in Wood and Monongalia counties, W. Va. 
A Lima-bean borer. — September 8, a Lepidopterous larva was found 
causing considerable damage to Lima-bean vines in Wood County, W. 
Va. The larva was about one inch long, the body uniform purple above 
and light blue beneath. It occupied about two inches of the vine, caus- 
ing a swelling or kind of gall, in this respect resembling the habits of 
the common stalk-borer (Gortyna nitela). When more than one larva 
occurred in a plant it died from the injury. I also failed to rear the 
adult of this insect. 
Indications that Cyllene picta emerges in the fall. — September 24, a 
hickory log was observed that had been cut in the spring of 1893 
which was infested with great numbers of the larvae and pupae of Cyl- 
lene picta. Numerous holes in the bark indicated that adults had 
emerged. None could be found in the wood, however; but fully 
matured pupae were found. If the imago of this species does emerge in 
the fall the fact is probably unrecorded. 
The Columbian bark-beetle. — October 7, I discovered the Scolytid 
which I subsequently described under the name of Corthylus colum- 
bianus. This insect and its work was the subject of a special investi- 
gation, which led to the determination of numerous heretofore unknown 
facts with reference to defects in wood caused by insects and other 
agencies, some of which are mentioned in Bulletins 35 and 36 of our 
station, and others will be mentioned in this and other papers to be 
read during the present session of the American Association. 
The investigation led to the discovery that what has been considered 
a serious defect in lumber, causing an immense loss to lumber manu- 
facturers, is not, in fact, a detriment in material for certain uses, 
but, on the contrary, may be desirable. Considerable interest has 
already been manifested by manufacturers, house and furniture builders, 
regarding the statement of this fact in Bulletin 36 of the West Vir- 
ginia station, and the indications are that a demand will thus be cre- 
ated for oak, " yellow poplar," and other woods containing the natural 
stains resulting from the attack of this insect. If so, the amount saved 
to the lumber manufacturers and owners of timber in our State will be 
inestimable. 
Injury to ivood by woodpeckers, — While studying the work of the 
Columbian timber-beetle I discovered that woodpeckers cause an injury 
to the outer sapwood of living trees which results in certain charac- 
teristic defects which reduces the value of the lumber and causes 
considerable loss. While examining the work of the birds I found 
that the punctures made by them in the bark of growing tulip trees 
caused a wrinkled or knotty condition in the surface of the wood 
beneath the bark. This led to my discovering, in a few days after, that 
an unnatural and much admired condition of the wood, known as 
