m, No. 8. August 1, 1913. 



































Mr, E,. R, Kalmbach of the Biological Survey has been de- 
tailed to cooperate with us in a study of the relation of birds 
to the range caterpillar, and has already left for New Mexico. 
Mr, W, J. Phillips and Dr. Henry Fox will, during the month, 
move from La Fayette, Ind., to Charlottesville, Va., there to 
‘continue their work in @ new laboratory to be established near the 
Patter city. 
a Of the office force, Miss. Marshall is taking her vacation 
"and Mr. W. R. Walton has gone to Koehler, N. Mex., to inves- 
tigate the native species of Tachinidae and their relation to 
the range caterpillar. 
q Mr. R. N. Wilson has been in the Imperial Valley, Califor- 
Mia, looking after the situation relative +t» Burymus eurytheme. 
“It seems that just as the caterpillars of this species were 
‘about to destroy the alfalfa, a bacterial disease broke out 
Bamong them and they died off in myriads. 
. Mr. Geo. I. Reeves has the men at work under his direction 
mengeaged in following cut shipments of freight and express, made 
Brrom central points in the country. infested by the alfalfa weev- 
Hil in order to determine if possible just to what extent the rail- 
“Ways are likely to become instrumental in diffusing the pest. 
Both railway and express companies are affording himself and his 
“mén every possible facility for carrying cut this work, which 
has long been in need of attention. 
; There does not appear tc be a well defined understanding 
among some members of the force as to just what miscellaneous 
observations are of value, such as one can easily make in going 
about his other work. It is of no consequence whatever to re- 
"@ord the simple occurrence of an insect on a plant unless it 
is feeding upon or otherwise affecting such plant, notably ovi- 
positing, or, as in case of Aphididae and allied insects, re- 
producing and the young found to be iiving on the plant. Other- 
wise the occurrence may be due to & coincidence. They must rest 
"somewhere. Notes on food plants, cr on the habits and actions 
of insects that are known to attack grain or forage crops are 
usually worth recording unless such facts are already well known. 
Miscellaneous nctes, intelligently made, involving food plants, 
habits, or natural enemies, are desirable subjects of record, 
and no one who has not himself prepared manuscript for publica- 
tion can fully comprehend the value of these fragments, which, 
‘When brought together, often supply the missing links in more 
€xtended studies, or round out these last, frequently in this 
way rendering the preparation of a complete paper possible. 
