The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-23
Portland Society of Natural History

Portland Society of NaturaI History.
The regular meeting was held April 18th. the
President in the chair. The President reported
that in accordance with the vote of the society
he had acknowledged the donation of Hon.
John Mussey.
He also made verbal communication in re-
lation to the Canadian caterpillar that for some
years past has been making extensive ravages
in that region. Sir Hugh Allan showed the
clusters of eggs secured near the tops of the
twgs of the pear trees to Mr.. J. l., Farmer OF
this city and he upon his return home found
what appeared to be the same upon trees in his
garden, specimens of which are upon the table
Through Mr.. Farmer we have received twigs
also from Canada, bearing clusters of eggs, and
upon close comparison under the microscope
cannot detect any difference, certainly not SO
great as between these and the clusters OF the
common tent caterpillar that infests the wild
cherry and other trees by the roadside, or in
neglected orchards and gardens, specimen OF
which is furnished by Mr.. Thomas Jones, but
without doubt they belong to that class.
A colony of these caterpillars from Mr.. Far
mer's garden that had been Matched in this
room, was on the table. Not having been able
to furnish them with their appropriate food,
after living about week they had nearly all
died. Those under the microscope appear of
nearly uniform brown color, the head being
black or nearly so, the body sparsely covered
with long hairs of tawny or dirty grayish
white color standing in threes upon conical
shaped black spiracles. 1t has eight feet upon
each side, three upon the anterior segments of
a pointed form, four upon the middle segments
of an elephant foot shape and one of similar
form upon the hind segment.
1t remains to be seen whether it will prove
to be new conner that is about to present its
claim to a share in the ravages that have been
going on for few years past i'll our ornamen-
tai shade and fruit trees. They correspond
very well to the description of the Clisocarpa
Sylvatica of Harris. but it will be necessary
wait for the full grown larva before coming to
to a decision. Upon Sir Hugh Allan's
grounds, about eight years ago, they literally
stripped all the leaves from grove of several
acres of oaks, naples and beeches near his
residence. causing great destruction among the
trees. A lady who was present informs me
that in the evening the noise made by the
movements of their jaws was very audible, and
after committing these ravages, they cam
down the trunks of the trees in such dense
masses that it was easy to imagine that they
had been robed in sable furs. They spread out
over all the grounds, invading the walls and
steps of the house in compact columns and
though swept up and disposed of by numerous
basketsful Yet in short time their places were
filled by others. A sharp frost that occurred
-. e H. 1Ia~r
| or five years ago seemed to have the effect OF
| thinning their numbers and though present
every year they have not again committed such
| wholesale destruction as above described. Sir
| Hugh had the impression that this caterpillar
| was new conner but the Rev. Mr.. FrothIng-
| ham of that city links that ravages of SINH
| lar character were committed by this same in
sect some thirty years ago
Mr.. B. Fuller exhibited the fully grown
| shell of an echnus or sea urchin that had been
| deeply and extensively compressed, yet a
transverse section shew no signs of fracture up
| on the inner surface. He also presented the
dead shell of mya truncata found by him upon
| the shore at Peaks Island and from this hint he
expects to be able to obtain the living shell this
| season. With the exception of small one
that he found at JEWELS Island some years age
| this is the first time that this shell has been
found in this region its nearest native place be-
| ing Eastport.
Mr.. L. Daniels, taxidermist, called attention
| TO A fine specimen of red necked grebe shot al
| Scarborough presented by Mr.. Thos Libby.
! The beauty of the breast plumage, its density
and softness giving fur like appearance to it
has caused demand for this bird for the pur
noses of the furrier and they are made into Ia
dies muffs, collars etc, that sell at higf
nrice under the name of Grebe Other dona
tions were announced from Mr.. Geo. Nich
Cant. 7, S. sturdivant, Mr.. II. b. Shnrtieff an'
| others az DER donation book. Mr.. A. L. Bur
hank was elected an active member. Ad
| journed.