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TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



this insect is single-brooded ; his first opinion thus coinciding with what 

 I have now proved to be the facts in the case. 



In the First Missouri Entomological Report, I have reviewed the 

 experiments which led him to change his opinion, and have shown that 

 they did not warrant his final conclusion. 



The many words that have been penned in the discussion of this 

 question would fill a volume; but one stern fact, one thorough experi- 

 ment, is worth more than all the theories that were ever conceived, or 

 the phrases that wei'e ever written on the subject. 



At first it seems to be a very simple question to settle, but the fact 

 that it i"emained unsettled so long would indicate the reverse. One of 

 your worthy ex-presidents. Judge A. M. Brown of Villa Ridge, at my 

 suggestion endeavored, in the summer of 1S69, to solve the problem by 

 imprisoning the first bred beetles and furnishing them with plucked 

 fruit. Dr. Hull partially performed a like experiment, and I did the 

 same myself; but we were met by the advocates of the double-brooded 

 theory with the objection that such a test was of no value, as the curculio 

 would not deposit on plucked fruit, or in confinement; and to add weight 

 to their argument they would cite us to numerous instances among 

 butterflies to prove that many insects really will not deposit in confine- 

 ment. But, as we shall see, they placed too much confidence in the 

 instinct of Mrs. Turk when, from such premises, they made these 

 deductions apply to her. As I proved over and over again, the question 

 could not be solved, with any more certainty, by confining beetles to 

 living boughs containing fruit, as the boughs could not well be covered 

 with any substance through which the beetles would not gnaw their way 

 out. So I determined last spring to build a frame over a large tree and 

 entirely enclose it In stout gauze that would neither let a flea In or out; 

 much less a curculio. Having accomplished this before the blossoms 

 had fallen ofi' the tree, I awaited with pleasurable Interest the result from 

 day to day, from week to week, and from month to month, engaging a 

 competent person to watch when, from necessity, I was obliged to be 

 away. It were worse than waste of time to detail here the many inter- 

 esting observations made on this tree which I had under control, or to 

 enumerate the many other experiments which I conducted in other ways, 

 or the Innumerable facts obtained ; and It will suffice to give In a sum- 

 mary manner the results, premising only that every precaution was 

 taken, and no expense spared, to prevent failure; that the experiments 

 were satisfactory beyond my expectations, the results conclusive beyond 

 all peradventure, and that I can prove every statement I make. To 

 sum up then : The Plum Curculio is siitgle-broodcd^ and I have with 

 me a number alive and kicking which were bred during the latter part 

 of Jtaie from the first stu?tg peaches. [These beetles, warmed by the 

 artificial temperature of the hall, were quite active, and were feeding 

 ravenously on a piece of apple which I had placed In the bottle.] But, 

 as there seem to be exceptions to all rules, so there are to this; yet the 

 exceptions are only just about sufficient to prove the rule, for as far south 

 as St. Louis, not more than one per cent, of the beetles lay any eggs at 



