25 
to the ground, but the lower eyes on the cane had sent out sprouts, 
showing- an entire deterioration of that part of the stalk. 
August 24 Mr. Sam. P. Saltus wrote of injury by this species, stat- 
ing that it did much damage in the vicinity of Gillisonville, S. C. , to 
grass intended for hay. In a patch of 4 acres sown in peas, also to be 
cut for hay, all the grass was destroyed in about two days, but the pea 
vines were left untouched. The same was noticed in fields of cotton. 
HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 
The original description of the fall army worm appeared in Smith 
and Abbot's Natural History of the Lepidopterous Insects of 
Georgia (1) x " in 1797, or one hundred and two years before the time 
of the last general outbreak. Even at that early date it was recog- 
nized that the species was a very destructive one, Guinea corn and 
other kinds of grain being then known as food plants, the larva being 
stated to feed on the bud or main shoot of the plant within which it 
lives. This account, which includes suggestions as to remedial treat- 
ment, is illustrated by a colored plate showing the different stages 
and the two common varieties of the adult. 
The economic literature of this species is very considerable and an 
effort will therefore be made to confine references to such publications 
as bear upon the history of outbreaks of the insect or upon its life his- 
tory and habits. 
It was not until the year 1855 that the insect appeared to have 
again attracted attention by its ravages, although there can be no doubt 
that it was injurious from time to time in different portions of the 
Southern States during that period. In that year Town end Glover, 
in his report on cotton insects (3), gave a fair account of this species, 
paying particular attention to ravages in the State of Georgia in 1854. 
Mention is made also of injury in 1845, reported by a Colonel Whit- 
ner at Tallahassee, Fla., to grass, corn, sugar cane, and upland rice. 
Glover's notice of injury refers particularly to grass, young grain, 
and cotton, and he stated, among other things, that ''instances had 
been known in which these caterpillars, urged by necessity, actually 
devoured stalks of fodder that were stored awa} r for winter consump- 
tion. Deep ditches cut in the earth to stop them were immediately 
filled up by the multitudes which fell in and perished, while eager 
millions still rushed over the trembling and half -living bridge formed 
by the bodies of their late companions, bent on their mission of 
destruction and devastation." 
During the year 1868 three accounts appeared by Joseph B. Lyman, 
M. D. Landon, and the late C. V. Riley. The account of the first 
a The numbers in parentheses ( ) refer to corresponding numbers in the biblio- 
graphical list appended. 
