From our own observations and from what we have been able to learn from our correspondents, the first brood of moths is noticed from May 1st to May 7th in Texas, from May 20th to May 25th in Missouri, and from May 20th to June 6th in Kansas. If, as is altogether likely, the insect hibernates as a moth, then this May brood may be considered as a second brood of moths, and as the adult offspring of the hibernating individuals. The larvae of the May brood of moths are noticeable (t. e., full grown in numbers) from May 25th to June is't in Texas, from June 10th to June 18th in Missouri, and from June 7th to June 15th in Kansas. Another brood of moths (the adults of the destructive brood of worms) was noticed June 25th in Texas, July 10th in Missouri, and July 1st in Kansas. The offspring of this last (third) brood of moths were nowhere noticed as injurious.

The worms were reported in small numbers July 15th from Kansas. August 11th full-grown larvae were received from Nebraska, from which State they had not before been reported, and it is possible that these individuals were the offspring of a fourth brood of moths. More probably, however, circumstances being apparently less favorable to their rapid increase, they were the retarded third brood of worms.

The statements which we have just made have only a general bearing, and the same confusion of generations was noticed, in all localities where the insect occurred abundantly, which is always noticeable in the undue development of any species. Larvae of all sizes were working together in Texas, and what we take to be the third brood of moths was flying before many of the second brood of larvae had ceased to work. From the facts at hand it may be safely concluded that there are normally four or five annual generations, and possibly one or two more under favoring circumstances. Dr. J. J. Kackley, of Chetopah, in writing to Professor Snow, says: *' * * * But few of the webs contain more than one inhabitant. I, therefore, do not think they are gregarious in their habits, but the force of numbers drives them to limited space. The wheat and oats appear to be exempt from their ravages, and this may be accounted for in consequence of the blades at this time being well lifted from the ground, as they are rarely found feeding upon the leaves of plants more than 12 or 15 inches from the root. When the top of the corn-plant is above this height the central portion escapes, and the worms confine their mischief to the lower blades of the stalks.

These lose their green luster and wither, remaining sickly and pale; but at the same time the head is pushing forward in vigorous growth, and does not succumb to death like the younger plants of smaller stature. * * *"

Professor Popenoe gives the following account in the 1880 article already cited:

"The following points in its history are the partial result of my study of this insect. Although I made careful search for the egg, I failed to discover it in situ, but it is without doubt deposited on the lower side of a leaf, or low down among the bases of a cluster of leaves, as newly-hatched larvae are found in both these situations, from which they soon wander to other parts of the plant. As soon as it [the larva] begins to move about, it begins to spin the web, and this is increased in extent as the movements of the larva are extended. It is very active in all stages of growth as a larva, and springs aside quickly when touched, sometimes throwing itself into a coil, but more often running rapidly away. At least in early life, the larva, when thrown off a leaf, will hang by a thread of silk. In case a single leaf is of sufficient size, as in the sweet potato, the well-grown larva is generally found on the upper side, in a shelter formed by drawing partly together the edge of the leaf by the silk of its web. In this shelter it is usually found at rest during the day, hanging by its feet, back downward, to the lower surface of the web. In other plants, several leaves may be drawn together for a place of concealment.

If, indeed, the larvae are not partially gregarious, they are at least not disturbed by proximity to each other, as several may be found, at times, in a common web, although I believe this is exceptional. As they are forced to move to new parts of the plant for fresh food, their webs are extended, until finally the entire plant is covered. The young larvae devour only the surface and substance of the leaf on the side where they are, leaving the veins and the opposite epidermis untouched, producing a 'skeleton' leaf. As they grow older, however, they devour all portions of the leaf, and often eat also the petioles and tender stems. Opportunity has not been given to determine the exact length of the larval life of this insect, but judging from observations made, this cannot greatly exceed a week. Parties living in the region where the insect was present in great numbers give ten days as the length of the time in which the chief destruction was accomplished".

On attaining its full growth the worm spins up, amid the debris on the ground at the base of the plant, in a delicate brownish cocoon of irregular shape, and transforms to pupa, in which state it remains from one to two weeks.

[The above is an abstract of the Report of the Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture, Prof. C. V. Riley, concerning an insect that promises to be very troublesome to gardeners, and we give it that our readers may be on the lookout for it. It is destroyed by Paris green and London purple. We cannot keep back these insects when they insist on coming among us. But we can watch for their early presence and destroy them before they do much damage, when we know what to look for. It is in work of this kind that the labor of the Entomological Division of the Department of Agriculture has proved itself of so much public utility, and has become so popular with the people. - Ed. G. M].