126 STUDY OF 



which are seldom to be met with in the north of 

 England. 



It was natural to expect, that a season so pro- 

 ductive of the more splendid insects, would also 

 occasion those few kinds which are noxious, to 

 be more than commonly prolific, and the fact, I 

 believe, was so. 



Turnips never suffered more from the jumping 

 beetle, (haltica nemorum) than in 1826. In 

 warm showery weather, the growth of this useful 

 vegetable is exceedingly rapid. No sooner are 

 the two seed leaves developed, than the first 

 rough leaf springs out and spreads itself with a 

 luxuriance which bids defiance to this little ra- 

 vager. On the contrary, if the weather be very 

 dry, the plant remains, for the first day or two, 

 almost stationary, and the fly seizes the oppor- 

 tunity to fix itself upon the two diminutive 

 smooth leaves, boring holes into them in the first 

 instance, apparently to arrest their growth, and 

 afterwards devouring them entirely. 



In many parts of Cheshire, turnips are sown 

 after potatoes, and, of course, much later than the 

 usual period of sowing them ; but they are still, 

 though, perhaps, not in an equal degree, liable 

 to be attacked by this fly. 



