54 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



certain localities in which little work had been done in the 

 fall of 1890 by the first commission. In some of these 

 places the bark of the trees was so covered with egg clusters 

 that it presented a yellowish appearance. This was the case 

 only in parts of Medford and at a few points in Maiden. 

 Wherever the first commission had worked the previous 

 autumn, few egg clusters were found on the trees. It was 

 decided, however, to make a thorough search of all localities 

 wherever it was practicable. With this in view, the base 

 boards of fences were taken oif, plank walks raised, the 

 steps of houses torn up and cellars and buildings entered. 

 In such places the eggs of the moth were found concealed 

 in great numbers. In some cases quarts of eggs were taken 

 out from beneath piazzas or flights of steps. Many eggs 

 were also found in some cellars. As the inspection pro- 

 gressed, a few badl}^ infested localities were found in other 

 towns and many eggs were destroyed. In most of these 

 towns the moths had not been colonized long enough to 

 become numerous, but were found in isolated colonies along 

 the roads. Such inspections as were made of woodlands 

 revealed in most cases comparatively few colonies, most of 

 them small and isolated. 



A careful estimate has been made from the daily reports of 

 inspectors, which shows the number of egg clusters destroyed 

 during the first six weeks of 1891 to be 757,760. The num- 

 ber of eggs contained in these clusters would probably be 

 from three to five hundred millions. 



The Enforcement of Police Regulations. 

 When in May the caterpillars Avere seen to be dropping 

 by their threads from the trees upon passing teams and 

 vehicles, it was deemed necessary to do something to check 

 their distribution in this manner. The method (used by the 

 commission of 1890) of guarding the roads leading out of the 

 worst-infested district was tried. The police were required 

 to inspect all horses and vehicles going out of the infested 

 district, record all facts regarding their destination, and 

 destroy any caterpillars found upon them. They were also 

 required to enforce the regulations of the department in 

 regard to the hauling of hay or manure without covers, and 



