101 
milky stage, and by devouring them formed irregular tunnels 
and cavities, most frequently near the top, though sometimes 
the greater portion of the ear was destroyed. Such cavities, 
filled with the nasty pellets of excrement, were frequently in- 
vaded by various moulds, which, in combination with the worm, 
of course spoiled the ear of corn for any culinary purpose. As 
a general rule only one worm is found in the ear, and only in 
cases where the tunnels are entirely separated from each 
other, two worms may occur. The tassel-worms, like so many 
of the true cut worms, are decided cannibals, and whenever 
an opportunity offers they seem to prefer animal food to their 
normal diet of plants. This voracious appetite was shown 
whenever a number of such caterpillars were mailed to this of- 
fice in the same box for identification. Even if the mailing box 
had been supplied with their appropriate food, only the strong- 
est caterpillars arrived in a more or less battered condition, 
showing that a battle had been going on during the trip, and 
all the weaker prisoners had been devoured, as could be seen 
by the heads and empty skins, which remained to tell the mur- 
derous tale. 
These tassel-worms are not usually very common in Minnesota, 
and are met with only occasionally and in certain seasons and 
localities. Evidently the last season formed an exception, and 
these caterpillars appeared in large and destructive numbers 
in many parts of the state. This insect is a cosmopolitan, be- 
ing more or less commonly found in many parts of the five con- 
tinents. As is usually the case, we find that like most other 
insects which exist in such different regions, it is also a very gen- 
eral feeder, thriving upon such plants as corn, cotton, toma- 
toes, pumpkins, tobacco, beans, peas and many other cultivated 
plants; a large number of different kinds of flowers and weeds 
are also to its taste. Althoughin the southern states a decid- 
edly injurious insect to corn, it is much more so to the cotton, 
and is much feared in the cotton fields, where it has received 
the appropriate name of ‘‘Boll-worm”, since it is in the habit 
of destroying the young cotton bolls. 
LIFE HISTORY. 
The parent of this caterpillar is a moth, very variable in 
color, as might be expected from an insect which feeds upon 
such a large variety of food plants; usually, however, it is of a 
