59 
LITERATURE. 
The first mention of this insect which I am able to find occurs 
on page 32 of Volume II. of the “American Entomologist, m a 
brief note concerning “Apple-tree Worms,” being a reply to a 
query of Mr. H. K. Vickroy, of Champaign, Illinois, who had found 
the larva “doing considerable damage to the apple-tree at that 
place. The editors there say: “These larvse were first communi¬ 
cated to us by A. C. Hammond of Warsaw Illinois early in 
September, 1868; and subsequently, at the Illinois State lair, 
.specimens were shown to us by W. T. Nelson, of Vi mmg on, 
Illinois. At the latter end of May, 1869, we bred the moth from 
them, and a full account of the species, illustrated by figures, will 
appear in the Second Annual Report of the senior editor, llie 
mode in which this larva operates on the apple-tree is by tying 
together the leaves with silken cords, forming a mass of consid¬ 
erable size inside which it lives gregariously, skeletonizing the 
leaves that it has thus appropriated, and filling them with its gun- 
powder-like excrement. It was so abundant m 1868, near V arsaw 
and Quincy, as nearly to strip many trees, especially in young 
orchards that were in an unthrifty condition * * * ' • i0 
distinguish our species from the Rascal Leaf-crumpler, we may 
call it, in English, ‘Hammond’s Leaf-tyer’ (Acrobasis hammondi, 
n. sp).” 
Blit on account of the untimely death of the senior editoi, Mi. 
Walsh, November 12, 1869, the Second Report alluded to in the 
above paragraph was never published, and the next mention or the 
species occurs in Dr. Riley’s Fourth Report as State Entomologist 
of Missouri (p. 44), where its life history and habits are treated 
of, the descriptions being accompanied with illustrations or the 
moth and larva. Concerning its habits and the effect of its in¬ 
juries, Dr. Riley writes as follows: 
“In the fall of the year the foliage of trees in young orchards, 
and especially in the nursery, often wears a blighted, corroded, 
rusty look, and upon carefully examining it such appearance will be 
found to result from the gnawings of this little Skeletomzer. A 
badly infested orchard or nursery presents such a decidedly seared 
aspect that it attracts attention at a great distance; and while 
traveling by rail I have often pointed out the work of this insect 
and felt as sure of its presence in certain orchards, as though I 
had closely examined the trees. 
“The rusty appearance is produced by the worm s feeding solely 
on the green pulpy parts of the upper surface of the leaf, and 
thus leaving untouched the more fibrous frame-woik. In some 
cases the pulpy portions are eaten off very thoroughly, so that 
nothing remains but the semi-transparent epidermis belov, and 
the net-work of veins; but more usually a certain amount of the 
parenchyma is left, and this it is which acquires a bright mst- 
red appearance. The worm always covers the leaf with loose ten¬ 
der silken threads, with which it mixes numerous little black, 
