August, ’24] 
HAMLIN: PRICKLY-PEAR CONTROL 
449 
Gypsy and Brown tail Moth and European Corn-borer laboratories near 
Boston, and by a survey of the cactus country of Texas. 
The field survey of southern Texas, outlined by Doctor W. D. 
Hunter, included Kingsville, Brownsville, Laredo, Uvalde, and San 
Antonio. Aside from permitting an acquaintance with the cactus 
enemies, this round made possible the selection of the most suitable 
locality for subsequent Texas work. The considerations affecting the 
choice were: number and abundance of cactus insects, presence of a 
United States entomological station with available working space to 
spare, accessibility of cactus to such laboratory, and availability of 
rapid transportation to the port of departure, San Francisco. Uvalde, 
fulfilling these conditions most satisfactorily, was chosen as the future 
seat of operations in securing the bulk of the Texas cactus-insect complex. 
Most valuable were the series of conferences extending over several 
days, held with the late Mr. J. D. Mitchell at his home in Victoria, 
Texas. Many hints relating to the various cactus insects, drawn from. 
Mr. Mitchell’s previous extensive observations on this group, proved 
a great help later. 
Organization 
During the first half-year period, the writer was assisted by a boy 
for three months. Later, Mr. E. Mortensen was secured as Assistant 
Entomologist. During the last year and a quarter of the period under 
discussion the force consisted only of Mr. Mortensen and boy help. 
Through the kindness of Doctor Hunter the occasional help of Mr. T. C. 
Barber of the United States Bureau of Entomology was made avail¬ 
able. In this way the variety of insects handled at Uvalde was in¬ 
creased by the sending of other species from Brownsville by Mr. Barber. 
Equipment 
The importation of insects at the laboratories visited in Massa¬ 
chusetts was limited to forms parasitic or predaceous on other insects, 
and the methods of packing and shipping could not be adapted to use in 
our problem of sending plant-feeding insects. Furthermore, the period 
in transit to Australia would occupy from four to five weeks, also en¬ 
tailing the passage through tropical conditions into the southern hemi¬ 
sphere where the organisms would be subjected to directly opposite 
seasons from those of their native habitat. 
Obviously, then, these considerations marked the packing and 
shipping conditions as a prerequisite to the successful introduction of 
the cactus insects to Australia. Considerable attention was, therefore. 
I 
