44 REPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
The prevailing direction of the wind during the months of March, April, Jane, and 
July is easterly, varying from N. E. to S. E. — Richard A. Edes, U. S. Consul, Bahia, 
Brazil. 
One of the caterpillars referred to by Mr. Edes is the larva of a species 
very near and perhaps identical with Aletia argillacea Ilubn., as proven 
both by specimens received from him and others collected and bred by 
Messrs. Branner and Koebele, while the other is undoubtedly Aletia 
xylina. 
From Pernambuco we have had the following excellent account : 
United States Consulate, 
Pernambuco, March 20, 1880. 
* * * The foes most fatal to the cotton plant are the different kinds of cater- 
pillars, which in some years increase to a frightful extent, destroying entirely the 
crop and the pasturage; the absence of rain, and "the blight." * * # 
The Cotton "Worm or caterpillar, Anomis xylina, particularly described in your letter, 
attacks the plant in these provinces. It appears simultaneously with the other 
varieties at the beginning of the rainy season, and never alone. It comes and disap- 
pears with the rain. 
So far as can be ascertained from observation, the Anomis xylina is believed to be 
a native of the country. During some entire years it is extremely rare to see a cater- 
pillar, whether there be sun or rain, wet or dry weather. Some varieties, however, 
seem consequent upon the action of the sun, and others upon the action of the rain, 
appearing and disappearing as if by enchantment. — Andrew Cone, U. S. Consul. 
In the more southern provinces of Brazil there is also a destructive 
Cotton Worm, but its identity with Aletia has not been established. 
The following paragraph from the report which Prof. J. E. Willet made 
to us in 1878 refers to the work of this worm: 
Dr. E. L. Mclntyre, of Thomasville, Ga., writes: " I settled in the province of Sao 
Paulo, Brazil, in the year 1866, and remaiued there eight years and a half. The cul- 
tivation of cotton was of recent date then, and they were planting their fourth crop 
when I arrived. Prior to the year 18C3 there had been some cotton planted in th© 
country, perhaps of an indigenous variety, but no one had ever observed a Cotton 
Worm, and I believe they had never existed there. In 1862 the price of cotton offer- 
ing great inducements to Brazilian farmers, they sought to procure seeds, but none 
could be had, and I am informed the seed then buing used was brought from New 
Orleans. The first year no caterpillars were seen, but after the second they com- 
menced to eat the leaves, and had iucreased to such an extent that when I moved, 
from there the cultivation of cotton was nearly abandoned." 
