90 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



north-western parts of France. There is nothing known about a trade 

 between Canada and the Mediterranean ports of France ; the trade was 

 with the western ports. The first mention of the Hessian Fly in Canada 

 in the chronological table of the Professor is 1805. The troops were sent 

 by the way of Brest. To be sure of the facts I appHed to the best 

 authority, Mr. Fr. Parkman, who has kindly confirmed in a note the above 

 given statements. 



The fourth conclusion (p. 238) of the Professor reads as follows : 

 " That it (Hess. Fly) has from time immemorial been an inhabitant of 

 wheat fields on the shores of the Mediterranean, in Spain, at Toulon in 

 France, at Naples, in Minorca and Asia Minor." 



It should have been remarked that the statement from time imme- 

 morial in Mr. Dana's report applies only to Minorca and Spain. Such 

 statements by agriculturists or peasants are to be taken for what they are 

 worth, if not corroborated by reliable published reports. After all it is 

 obvious that this statement states too much. The experience of a century 

 has shown that the Hessian Fly has nowhere been from time immemorial 

 the inhabitant of the same spot. 



Concerning France, the letter of Mr. Broussonet (Encycl. Britan. and 

 Parliamentary Report) proves directly that no mischief was done con- 

 siderable enough to attract the attention of the Government. The speci- 

 mens collected by Mr. Dana at Toulon are the only ones known from this 

 part of France. 



Concerning Italy, I know nothing except the few specimens collected 

 near Naples by Mr. Dana ; but I have taken steps to receive direct state- 

 ments from Italy as well as from Spain. I have not yet been able to compare 

 the two Italian publications quoted in the report of Sir Joseph Banks. 

 The quotation of Asia Minor should have contained that Prof Loew had 

 not seen the fiy, but had collected near the shore a larva and pupa on the 

 straw, later recognized by him as identical with his Cec. secalina. 



I believe that the value of the Professor's fourth conclusion is rather 

 doubtful after the statements just given, and the value of the fifth con- 

 clusion, " that it probably originated in this (Mediterranean) region or 

 farther east, the probable original habitat of the wheat and other cereals," 

 is nothing more than a supposition of B. Wagner. But the statement that 

 these cereals still live wild in Persia is not proved at all, and certainly 

 neither the fly nor any record about any mischief done by it in the Orient 

 has been found. 



