47 



A Spider-bite Contribution. 



As my brother receives Insect Life, id which I have found very many interest- 

 ing things, I see that you are taking up the question of the bite of spiders and that 

 observations are desired. Here is one which unfortunately does not accord in its re- 

 sults with those which have already been published on this subject. 



In 1858, if I recollect rightly, being in Silao de la Victoria, near Guanajuato, they 

 brought to me a little girl who had been bitten by one of those enormous spiders, 

 quite common there, and which Mr. Leon Becker has named Metriopelma oreyeri. The 

 oblong tumified border was about 3 lines high, of a livid, violaceous color, filled with 

 a serosity which I was not able to examine, not wishing to puncture the very thin 

 epidermis. The center of the tumor was concave, and filled with hard pus. Eight 

 days after the accident there was a little pain but there were no general symptoms. 

 Unfortunately I was unable to follow the case, so that the observation remains in- 

 complete, but I think that they would have brought the child back to me if there had 

 been any serious consequences. It is impossible for me to recall the treatment which 

 I employed. Since that time I have never had occasion to see any one bitten by Me- 

 triopelma, Theridion, or Scolopendra. — [Dr. Alfred Luge's, Guanajuato, Mexico, May 28, 

 1889. 



Blackbirds vs. Boll-worms. 



On page 351, Insect Life, after comments on Blackbirds and the Boll-worm, it is 

 remarked, " This is an interesting experience, but was the evidence sufficient," etc. 

 To my mind it was, to encourage me that I had a friend in the blackbird, and that 

 he was destroying boll-worms by the thousand. The facts are these : 



My field of corn w s in full roasting-ear, and the blackbirds were swarming in it. 

 My hired man came to my library and told me we must get some boys with guns to 

 shoot blackbirds, or they would ruin our corn. He added, " The neighbors are all in 

 their corn-fields shooting to drive away the blackbirds." I told him to wait until I 

 had time to see what the blackbirds were doing. On entering the field there were 

 enough blackbirds in sight to have ruined the field of corn in a short time. I spent 

 an hour or more in the field of 24 acres, and did not find an ear that showed the birds 

 were eating the corn. The birds would light on the ears, and spend but a short time 

 there, and pass to another ear. I noted ear after ear that I had seen a bird on, and 

 I always waited until the bird had finished his work on it. I found on every such 

 ear the marks of the boll-worm. They were developed enough to have commenced 

 eating the grains. There were the evideuces that the worm had been there, and I 

 saw the blackbirds there, and making passes as if picking out the worms, and after the 

 bird had left the ear I could find no worm. The birds seemed to be busy hunting and 

 eating this destructive and disgusting pest. I left the field pleased and grateful to 

 the blackbirds. I told my hired man he need not waste any time or powder on the 

 birds. They were welcome to hunt worms, and could take what corn they wanted 

 to make a variety. Now, this is not sufficient to show that blackbirds are in the 

 habit of feeding on the boll- worms, I know, but it satisfied me that the birds were 

 destroying thousands of them for me. The season was dry, the meadows were short, 

 and the grass dried on the hillsides overlooking my bottom fields. The conditions 

 were these corn in full roasting-ear, the earth dry, and the weather hot. The corn 

 at husking time was not injured by birds more than usual, which is so light as to be 

 almost inappreciable. I hope I may have opportunity this season to make further 

 observations, and that the good work of the blackbirds may be established by many 

 witnesses. — [L. N. Bonham, Columbus, Ohio, June 7, 1889. 



Further on American Insecticides in India. 



I have to thank you for No. 9 of your valuable publication, Insect Life, contain- 

 ing my remarks upon insect pests and your foot-note to the same. With reference to 

 my note about the Lecanium found upon Mango trees, I have since heard from Mr. 



