Article beginning on page 276.
Psyche 2:276-277, 1877.

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and a valuable microscope by Nach6t were likewise stored in the small wooden building or LL office " a few metres back of the dwelling house, the latter within a few months of its centennial anniversary.
The faithful shepherd dog that for some years past accom- panied the good doctor in his walks, sleeps nightly on the floor of the little office porch, guarding these treasures of science in their frail receptacle. Francis G. Sanborn. The biological collection of insects belonging to the New York State Agricultural Society was arranged by Dr Fitch, about ten years ago, when he was still holding his position of Entomologist to the Society. It is arranged in six cases, attached to the railing of the second floor of the society's museum. In these cases are contained examples of the inju- rious insects of the state of New York, in their several stages, and in some instances accompanied by specimens of their depre- dations, displayed in the following order : Case I. Insects infesting grain and other crops; Case 2. Grass insects ;
Case 3. Insects of the garden ; Case 4. Insects infesting fruit-trees ; Case 5. Insects infesting fruit-trees ; Case 6. Insects injurious to man and animals. The number of specimens is about sixteen hundred. With the exception of perhaps one hundred specimens subsequently added, the present arrangement and labeling is that of Dr. Fitch ; in the latter, a few changes would be required to make it conform to present nomenclature.
In a series of wall-cases occupying the western gallery of the third floor of the museum are contained the larger biological specimens illustrative of insect depredations on plants, timber, furniture, etc., and exhibiting the larval stage, in alcohol, of some of the larger forms.
The State Agricultural Society, recognizing the value of this collection, and the importance of its preservation from insect attack, upon the retirement of Dr. Fitch placed it under my care.
In the year 1874, four large hanging-cases of insects were purchased of Dr. Fitch, for the State Museum of Natural



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terfly in July, wintering in this condition and laying eggs in the spring.
For the interest of collectors I append a list of the localities at which the butterfly has been found in this region. It will be noticed that, as in the case of many other southern butter- flies occasionally found here, its track is along the coast and up the valley of the Connecticut; most of the instances of cap- ture are within sight of the sea, where, in marshy spots, one of its favorite food plants, the Gerardia, best flourishes ; this indi- cates the most probably successful place of search for the cater- pillar.
The New England captures known to me are the following : In Connecticut, Prof. S. I. Smith has seen several specimens from the vicinity of New Haven, taken the last of September ; Mr. E. Norton has taken it at Farmington; and Mr. T. F. McCurdy found the species somewhat plentiful one autumn in the vicinity of Norwich. In Rhode Island, Cql. T. W. Hig- ginson reports several from Newport. In Massachusetts, Mr. R. Thaxter has taken it in the western part of the state, Mr. Bennett (according to Mr. 0. A. Emery) captured a single specimen at Springfield ; Prof. H. W. Parker (see PSYCHE, i, 26) took a female 25 July, and a somewhat worn male 4 Aug. and saw others on the latter day; Mr. F. H. Sprague took a number of specimens in Wollaston and Granby in August and September; Mr. F. G. Sanborn took it in early August on Cape Cod, and I caught one in the same region in September; Dr. T. W. Harris took a single specimen at Milton 19 Aug. ; and Mr. R. Thaxter has taken and observed several in the vicinity of Newton, and especially about Prospect Hill in Wal- tham. In New Hampshire, I took a specimen many years ago at Hampton Beach on 12 Aug., then the northernmost point at which it had been found ; but since then we have Mr. Davis's capture at Portsmouth in 1875 and July 1876 (three specimens taken), and Mr. R. Thaxter even reports it from Cape Meddock in Maine, not far north of Portsmouth, N. H., where it was taken 31 July 1874. Both Mr. Parker and Mr. Davis captured their specimens on thistle heads. Samuel H. Scudder.




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