48 HALF HOURS WITH INSECTS. LPackakd. 
colored caterpillars (such as the Currant Abraxas, or span 
worm), which never conceal themselves, but on the contrary 
appear to court observation” were not touched by the birds. 
He states, on the other hand, that “all caterpillars whose 
habits are nocturnal, and are dull-colored, with fleshy bodies 
and smooth skins, are eaten with the greatest avidity. 
Every species of green caterpillar is also much relished. 
All Geometrae, whose larvae resemble twigs, as they stand 
out from the plant on their anal prolegs, are invariably 
eaten.” Mr. A. G. Butler of London has also found that 
frogs and spiders will not eat the same larvae rejected by 
birds, the frogs having an especial aversion to the currant 
span worms (Abraxas and Halia). 
The natural enemies of the Currant Saw Fly are three 
kinds of ichneumon flies, of which one is a minute egg-para¬ 
site. Mr. Lintner, of New York, states that of fifty eggs 
laid by the parent saw fly, only four or five hatched out the 
currant worm. We see, then, that though the birds appar¬ 
ently destroy none, an immense number are carried off, even 
before they have a chance of doing any mischief, by minute 
insects of their own order. 
One of the best remedies next to picking them off by 
hand, and which is realty the most practicable method of 
getting rid of them, .is to dust powdered white hellebore 
over the bushes, by sprinkling it from a muslin bag tied to a 
stick, as it otherwise excites violent sneezing. Used in this 
small quantity it is not poisonous. This is the remedy used 
with most success in the west, and recommended by Messrs. 
Walsh and Riley. A solution, consisting of a pound of 
copperas to six gallons of water, has been used with much 
success. It blackens the leaves, but does not injure them 
permanently. Also suds made of carbolic soap is perhaps 
a better remedy. 
Dr. E. Worcester, of Waltham, according to the “Boston 
Journal of Chemistry,” finds that this worm “ may be fully 
16 
