THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 201 



All troops from 1779 to 1782 landed in Quebec or in Halifax. Only 

 in 1780 troops embarked August 15th, arrived October 17th in New York. 



I think in comparing all these data, everybody will agree that the fly 

 could not have been imported by those troops. There has doubtless 

 been too much patriotic impulse and indignation prevailing in accepting 

 without any real criticism these old traditions. Patriotic motives are the 

 worst guides in scientific questions. 



II. It is very probable that the fly was here before the war. 



I regret that I am not acquainted with the older American literature, 

 and I have no means to get at it. Therefore I know only one statement, 

 quoted by Dr. A. Fitch, which seems to Dr. Wagner and myself to prove 

 that the Hessian fly had existed here before the arrival of the Hessian 

 troops. The statement (I have seen the original communication) says : 

 " A respectable and observing farmer of this town (Renselaer, N. Y.), 

 Colonel James Brookins, has informed me that on his first hearing of the 

 alarm on Long Island in the year 1786 (Fitch says doubtless 1776 is 

 intended), and many years before its ravages were complained of in this 

 part of the country, he detected the same insect upon examining the 

 wheat growing in his town. These facts prove pretty satisfactorily that 

 the Hessian fly or wheat insect is indigenous in this country." 



Dr. Fitch rejects the testimony with some sarcastic phrases, and 

 adds : " The strong probability is that it was some other insect which was 

 found by Col. Brookins.'' I don't see how such testimony can be rejected. 

 There is no need to doubt that a respectable and observing farmer would 

 recognize the devastations done by the Hessian fly. Every one, even 

 the most unobserving man, having seen once such a devastated field, will 

 recognize and remember the fact. Moreover, there has not existed, nor 

 does there exist now in the U. S., according to Dr. Fitch's own writings, 

 an insect which produces similar ravages. 



Dr. Fitch makes similar objections to the statement of Mr. Mitchell 

 that the fly had appeared on Long Island in 1776, before the anival of the 

 troops. He says the devastations were conspicuous and liable to attract 

 attention, and leaves us in the dark when Col. Morgan states that in 1778 

 the fly made its first appearance, and directly after that Mr. Clark states 

 that the fly made its first appearance in 1779, so that at least one of them 

 must have been mistaken. 



