316 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW- YORK 



best classification of its subjects which can be made. And w^hen 

 we call to mind how many insect depredators are to be found upon 

 a particular kind of tree, or a single one of our grain crops, it 

 will at once be perceived that the number of objects to be examined 

 under all of the several heads above specified, will be truly 

 immense. Many years will of course be required to investigate 

 eacli one of these sufficiently to render such a full and exact 

 account of it as the advanced state of knowledge at the present 

 day demands — an account which will give to the reader a com- 

 plete view of the history and economy of each species — such an 

 acquahitance with them, in short, as is requisite to enable those 

 who are suffering from these pests to devise the most suitable and 

 effectual modes for combatting them. 



In tlie meantime, as the habits of a multitude of these depre- 

 dators have already been investigated more or less fully by different 

 observers, it is important that the information relating to them, 

 wliich is now scattered through a number of different ^Yorks, 

 nui ny of which are inaccessible to those who are most deeply inter- 

 ested in the premises, should be brought together in a condensed 

 form, so as to present a full view of this subject. More than a 

 century iigo, the celebrated naturalist Reaumur, expressed the 

 wish that those observers who are laboring to elucidate the history 

 of insects, would prepare and give to the world lists of all the 

 kinds which feed upon each particular tree and plant. But in 

 this country, where so little accurate knowledge of our insects is 

 diffused among the population, in addition to its name, an indica- 

 tion of the external appearance and habits of each species is a 

 great desideratum. Our agricultural periodicals are making fre- 

 quent allusion to this as a most important want at the present time. 

 And I liave hence thought that, in addition to the original matter 

 wliicli I liave to report as the fruit of my own investigations, I 

 could not render a more valuable service than that of posting up 

 this subject in such a manner as to present a map as it were of the 

 entire field. I therefore propose, in this and the succeeding 

 reports, to pass over this whole ground, giving every American 

 insect which is at present known as being an injui-ious species, 

 arnniging tliem in their regular order under the several heads 

 abt)ve specified. 1 design to give the common and the scientific 

 juiuie of each species, with the name of the order and family to 



