Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/172

150 ill founded. We have just received the first Report, which extends to nineteen pages, and clearly shows that the venture has by no means been unsuccessful. Miss E.A. Ormerod, the author, herself tells us "the request has been responded to far more cordially than could have been expected."

It is said that Economic Entomology is to a certain extent a useless work in this country, from the immunity we enjoy from the attacks of noxious or hurtful insects. Certainly in this respect we are not afflicted to the same extent as many other countries. We have not the "hoppers" or "tater-bugs" of our American friends, nor is a great industry threatened, as is vine culture to our continental neighbours through the ravages of the Phylloxera. But we know from experience and hearsay that great damage is wrought to many of our products by the effect of insect " blights."

The removal or abatement of these losses seems to be the aim of these 'Notes,' and we can only wish that, as the work seems to have been so well taken up by competent observers in such varied localities, it may eventually lead to good results. To show its practical bearings, we cannot do better than quote the Report itself, the second paragraph of which runs as follows:—

The details of the Report need not be specified here further than to say that information has been received respecting fifteen of the sixteen insects specially recommended to be observed. The species unobserved is the Corn Sawfly (Cephus pygmæus). Of those mentioned the first eight are the most important, viz.:—The Turnip Fly (which, by the bye, seems to be a little beetle), Onion Fly, Carrot Fly, Cabbage Moth, Cabbage Butterfly, Wireworm, Celery or Parsnip Fly, and Turnip Sawfly. The remaining eight appear to be a somewhat miscellaneous collection, but in it are contained two notable species—(1) the Wheat Midge or Red Maggot (Cecidomyia tritici), that very destructive little gnat