56 PAEASITES OF GIPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 
Japanese parasites, and Prof. S. I. Kuwana immediately prepared 
an important sending, which, however, was not productive, through 
accidents in transportation. The method tried by Prof. Kuwana 
was interesting. A small tree carrying a number of infested gipsy- 
moth caterpillars was packed in a large wooden case with wire- 
gauze sides; another case of small elms was shipped' with the insects, 
and they were thus supplied with fresh food from time to time as 
far as Hawaii. The case, however, shrunk in transit, making open- 
ings through which the parasites for the most part escaped. 
In May, 1905, the Chief of the Bureau of Entomology visited 
Boston for conference with Mr. Kirkland, and on June 3 sailed 
from Boston to Naples. Landing in Naples on June 13, he at once 
proceeded to the Royal Agricultural School at Portici, some miles 
away, and held a conference with Prof. F. Silvestri, the entomologist 
of the college, and his principal assistant, Dr. G. Leonardi. By 
good fortune, Prof. Silvestri was able to point out a locality in 
Sardinia where, during 1904, there had been a severe outbreak of 
the gipsy moth and where, therefore, during 1905 parasites could 
with almost absolute certainty be predicted to occur in numbers. 
With true scientific enthusiasm, both Prof. Silvestri and Dr. Leonardi 
volunteered their assistance, and Dr. Leonardi was at once com- 
missioned by his chief to proceed to Sardinia and to collect such 
caterpillars as he could find and forward them in tight wooden 
boxes, with a supply of food, to Boston. His expedition was a 
success, and there were received from him at Boston, on the 15th 
of July, 7 boxes, on the 26th of July 24 boxes, and on the 1st of 
August 7 boxes, all containing valuable material, the most important 
being a large series of living puparia of certain parasitic tachina 
(lies. 
This extremely cordial and profitable reception at Portici by 
Prof. Silvestri and Dr. Leonardi, both personally known to the 
chief of the bureau from former visits, was but a foretaste of the 
encouragement which was to be met at all points, and it may very 
properly be said in advance that throughout the whole of the work 
many European and Japanese entomologists, both officials and 
private individuals, have shown an extreme liberality in their offers 
of assistance in this great piece of experimental work, and the State 
of Massachusetts and the United States Government are under 
great obligations to them for their help and encouragement. For 
the work done by Dr. Leonardi, just described, and for similar 
work done in ensuing years, with Prof. Silvestri's permission, no 
compensation would be accepted, and the State of Massachusetts 
has paid simply for (lie expenses, such as packing, postage, small 
traveling expenses, and items of that general character. 
