232 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



Altum says that in the year 1848 endless numbers of the 

 larvae of the gypsy moth had eaten every leaf from the trees 

 of Count Wodzicki. In the fall all the trunks and branches 

 were covered with the egg-clusters. Having recognized the 

 uselessness of the attempt to remove them by hand, he finally 

 gave up all his endeavors, and' prepared to see his beautiful 

 trees die. Toward winter numerous flocks of titmice and 

 wrens came daily to the trees. The egg-clusters disap- 

 peared. In the spring twenty pairs of titmice nested in the 

 place, and the caterpillar plague was noticeably reduced. In 

 the year 1850 the birds had so cleared his trees that he saw 

 them during the entire summer in their most beautiful 

 verdure.* 



Eeaumur says that the larvEe of the gypsy moth were very 

 numerous in 1826 on the lines of the Allee Yerteat Brussels. 

 Many of the trees were stripped, and if one-half the eggs 

 which were deposited that year had hatched, scarcely a leaf 

 would have been left the next season, either there or in the 

 park, where the eggs were numerous also ; yet two months 

 afterward hardly one was to be seen. This destruction of 

 the eggs he attributes to titmice, tree creepers and other 

 small birds. f 



The Introduction of European Birds. 

 If it is true that these European birds are so very useful 

 in this respect, the comparative immunity of many European 

 regions from the attacks of the gypsy moth may be due in a 

 measure to their efibrts. If such be the case, their introduc- 

 tion into Massachusetts may well be thoughtfully considered. 

 If introduced into a new country these feathered egg hunters 

 might thrive and multiply exceedingly, and if the eggs of 

 the gypsy moth are to them a familiar food, they would 

 probably seek these eggs here in preference to the unfamiliar 

 insect eggs which they would find. Such birds might in this 

 way prove as useful as a small army of men. Yet what com- 

 pensation would they exact for this service? 



* " Forstzoologie," Vol. II., page 324, 1880. 



t "An Introduction to Entomology," by Kirby and Spence, Philadelpliia, 1846, 

 page 152. 



