Nigger Caterpillar of the Turnip. 517 



the scientific world, confidently asserting his claim to hold the 

 same elevated position as that assigned to a Newton, a Her- 

 schel, or a Faraday. It seems that, on the 2d of September, 

 Mr. Murphy addressed a communication to the editor of the 

 Times, warning all merchants, captains, and owners of vessels 

 to look out for squalls on or about the 14th.. The captains, 

 however, of several vessels on the north-west coast, probably 

 aware of Mr. Murphy's error as to " dates " in the month 

 of January, conceived it possible he might be equally out in 

 his calculations for September ; and, making light of his in- 

 junction, have paid for their temerity with the loss of their 

 cargoes and the lives of their passengers. 



Mr. Murphy, totally regardless of the unfortunate beings 

 who have gone to the shades beneath, is perfectly intoxicated 

 with joy at his predictions being fulfilled ; and, in the Times 

 of the 21st, speaks of this "lucky hit" as establishing beyond 

 a doubt the correctness of his prognosticating powers, and 

 the discovery of principles which will have a far more im- 

 important influence over the destinies of mankind than any 

 discovery which has been made for ages past. Now, although 

 we are not quite so sanguine upon this head as Mr. Patrick 

 Murphy himself, yet, having upon a former occasion spoken 

 rather disrespectfully of his insight into futurity, we are 

 bound, in fairness, to call attention to these facts as recorded 

 in the columns of the Times newspaper. — Ed. 



Black Jack, Nigger Caterpillar of the Turnip, or Larva of 

 Athdlia centifblice. — An arrangement has been made be- 

 tween the Entomological Society and the Agricultural Associ- 

 ation of Saffron Walden, whereby the sum of ten guineas has 

 been proposed as the prize to be given to the writer of the 

 best essay (to be drawn up from personal observation) upon 

 the natural history and proceedings of this insect, to be illus- 

 trated by figures of the insect in its different states ; together 

 with the result of actual experiments made for the prevention 

 of its attacks, or the destruction of the insects themselves. 

 The essays must be accompanied by testimonials of the suc- 

 cess of the remedies proposed by the writers, and must be 

 forwarded to the secretary of the former Society (at No. 17. 

 Old Bond Street, London), with fictitious signatures, on or 

 before the fourth Monday in January, 1838 ; when they will 

 be referred to a committee to decide upon their respective 

 merits ; after which, with the permission of the writers, both 

 the prize essay, and any others of value, will be published. 

 The essays must be respectively accompanied by a sealed 

 letter, indorsed with the fictitious signature adopted by each 

 author, and enclosing the real name of the writer. 



