40 
leaves and balls were used in all three experiments. The last and fourth was with 
carefully dried green leaves reduced to a snuff or powder. The decoction or infusion 
of this last gave negative results also, but revealed a ropy consistency, something- 
like Slippery Elm. For sometime I was greatly perplexed, after receiving your 
statement that your results did not agree with my first experiments, which had stim- 
ulated me so much, but I have decided that the effect on the worms, which was sim- 
ilar to the effect prodnced by treating with a decoction of tobacco, was really the 
poisonous effect of nicotine. I used a vessel in which I had made a previous decoc- 
tion of tobacco, and merely rinsed it out, and boiling the leaves and balls in it, of 
course, brought out all the adhering strength and produced results as stated. Or, 
possibly, this gum closed up the breathing pores, which should have been the case 
with your experiments also, if true, but this even would not have produced the spas- 
modic symptoms so characteristic of tobacco poison. Be this as it may, I have no 
faith in it as an insecticide. — [S. B. Mullen, Mississippi, September 1, 1893. 
Alleged Killing of a Dog by the "Hickory Horned Devil." 
I express you this day a worm, which I would like you to examine and give me 
name, etc. This bug was brought to this place by a negro who lives near here, and 
his story is that his dog went into a patch of weeds near his house, and yelping as 
if in pain ran out with this bug fastened to his lip by one of its horns. The dog- 
lived about an hour and then died, with symptoms of hydrophobia; at any rate, it 
had fits of that character. The weed patch, which was small, was examined for a 
snake, but none could be found. — [T. R. McGuire, Mississippi, September 8, 1893. 
Reply. — The caterpillar which you send belongs to the striking species known 
in the South as the "Hickory Horned Devil." The moth into which it transforms, 
known scientifically as atheroma regalis, is a large insect, having a w r ing expanse 
of about 5 inches and a beautiful olive and reddish coloration. This caterpillar 
feeds upon the leaves of the Hickory, Oak, Persimmon, and a few other trees, and 
the species is not a rare one. The larva, although so ferocious in appearance, is 
entirely harmless, and may be handled with perfect impunity. The negro's story is 
unworthy of credence, unless perhaps the dog was actually bitten by a poisonous 
snake which was not discovered. — [September 11, 1893. 
NOTES FROM CORRESPONDENTS. 
New Food Plant of Pseudococcus yuccee. — The third week in June we 
received specimens of this interesting Coccid from Mr. D. W. Coquillett, who found 
it feeding upon Ceanothus oliganthus, at an elevation of from 2,000 to 5,000 feet. It 
occurred in large numbers, one medium-sized tree having been nearly killed by it. 
The other food plants of the species are Yucca wMpplei and Mimulus glutinosus. 
The Eggs of the Leopard Moth. — Mr. Herman Meeske, of Brooklyn, has been 
kind enough to send us a female of Zeuzera pyrina, taken in the act of ovipositing. 
He also sent us the entire batch of eggs, w r hich we have had carefully counted, with 
the result that between 1,000 and 1,100 eggs were found. 
Cigarette Beetle eating Silk. — A correspondent of the Division writes from Win- 
ter Park, Florida, to complain of the damage done by beetles and larvae of Lasioderma 
serricorne which are feeding upon silk with which certain furniture is upholstered 
in her house. We have recommended either benzine or bisulphide of carbon treat- 
ment and place the fact on record simply on account of tbe habit. 
A new Food Plant for Papilio turnus. — Dr. Ben. H. Brodnax, of Brodnax, La., 
sends us the larva of the common Tiger Swallowtail, wdiich he found upon some 
camphor trees (Camphora officinalis) growing in his vicinity, which were sent out 
from this Department some years ago. 
