Thomas Cyrus.— Temperature and Rainfall as Affecting the' 
Chmch Bug.—Periodicity in its Increase. (Am. Ent., Oct., 
1880, v. 3, pp. 240-242. Abstract of article, in Prairie 
Farmer, Sept. 10, 1881.) 
Chronological data graphically represented by map showing 
lelations of chinch-bug outbreaks in Illinois and adjoining por¬ 
tions of Iowa and Missouri, to weather conditions. Author 
began his investigations by ascertaining the annual average 
o rainfall fiom 1840 to 18//, and then noted the variation of 
each year from this average, representing these variations by 
curves. Taking this diagram as basis of discussion, calls atten¬ 
tion to the fact that the series of years appears to be divided 
“5° 4 Cy 7o°f, SeV6r \ 11 For exam P le > counting backward from- 
i«/b to 1840, the rainfall every seventh year seems to have been 
above the average, and this septenary period seems divided into 
periods of four and three years, the ternary period ranking first 
as to rainfall and the quaternary second. Next considers the 
relation of the rainfall to the appearance of chinch bugs, and re- 
gaidmg it as generally admitted that two successive dry years are 
necessary to the development of these insects in injurious num¬ 
bers, he finds the chronological history of the species to be fairly 
conformable to his theory of periodicity. In closing he says, 
The high temperature of 1854, ’7J, and 74, together with the 
diminished rainfall, furnish the key to the cause of the great de¬ 
velopment of the chinch bug during these years.” 
J[ohnson], B. F. Our Correspondence. (Cultivator and Coun¬ 
try Gentleman, Oct. 28, 1880, v. 45, p. 692.) 
Champaign Co., Oct 19. Losses from chinch bug this year are 
rifling, but there are already indications that it will appear in 
force on next year’s crops.” 
Forbes, S. A.—The Food of Birds. (Bull. Ill. State Lab. Nat.. 
Hist., v. 1, No. 3 (1880), pp. 113, 113, 121, 124.) 
Chinch bugs were found in the food of the catbird and brown 
thrush, and m that of a single robin. 
1881. 
Thomas, Cyrus. Questions Answered. (Prairie Far 
1881.) 
mer, Jan. 81 
Gives winter habits of chinch bug. 
Thomas, Cyrus. Belation of Meteorological Conditions to In- 
sect Development (Trans. Ill. State Hort. Soc. 1880, n. s., 
v. 14, pp 89-99.) [Shorter article under the same title 
(essentially an abstract of the above) in Farmers’ Review. 
Jan. 13, 1881, v. 6, p. 30.] 
Speaks of continual increase of insect enemies of agriculture 
due to extension of cultivation and to contact of cultivated areas. 
Accounts for oscillations of injurious insects by reference to 
