192 PARASITES OF GIPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 
The several native species spinning similar cocoons attack a variety 
of hosts, and one of them, L. clisiocampse, is sometimes common and 
quite effective as a parasite of the host indicated by its specific name. 
The larvae, after spinning the cocoon and before discharging their 
meconium, are very active for a period of about 24 hours, convul- 
sively wriggling the body in such a manner as to make the spherical 
cocoon move about in an extraordinary manner. It is altogether 
probable that the gipsy-moth parasite has the same characteristic, 
and that the cocoons so spun in the trees are quickly dislodged, fall 
to the ground, and become hidden beneath leaves and debris. 
Prof. Kincaid was especially instructed to seek for evidences of 
parasitism by this species in Russia on the occasion of his trip to 
that country in 1909. He did not find it at all abundant, however, 
and only secured three or four cocoons. In 1910 the junior author 
sought diligently for these cocoons in the forest about Kharkof, 
where the caterpillars had been very abundant the season before, 
but he was entirely unsuccessful and as a result thoroughly convinced 
that it was not an important parasite in any of the several forests 
visited. There was no opportunity at Kief to make a similar search, 
because the caterpillars had not been sufficiently abundant within 
recent years in any of the localities visited to make likely the discovery 
of these cocoons, even though the species had been of importance as 
an enemy of the gipsy moth. 
In 1909 and again in 1910 it, or another practically indistinguish- 
able species, was received in very small numbers from Japan, but at 
the same time under circumstances which were in a way as suggestive 
of the possible importance of the species as were those under winch 
it was first received from Russia, as detailed above. As in the case 
of the Japanese Meteorus, it is hoped to be able to determine defi- 
initely whether it is to be considered as of more than technical interest 
in the connection in which it is here considered. 
LlMNERIUM (AxiLASTUS) TRICOLORIPES VlER. 
From time to time several specimens of Limnerium cocoons, all of 
them oblong in shape, and most of them partially concealed by the 
skin of the host caterpillar, have been received from Europe. In no 
instance have they been in sufficiently large numbers to make the 
species appear promising as a parasite. 
Less than a dozen specimens have been received, all told, and were 
it not for the fad that the remains of the host accompanied the 
cocoon, il would not be possible thus definitely to associate the para- 
site with its host. 
