308 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



and even October, in more northerly latitudes, are well calcu- 

 lated to mislead ; while it was difficult to imagine an insect 

 living ten months before ovipositing, without its dwindling 

 away through the action of its enemies. But in the beetle 

 state the curculio has few, if any, enemies, and in my former 

 writings on this subject I have shown that the other facts do 

 not in the least prove the insect to be double-brooded. Among 

 those whose opinions commanded respect, from their profound 

 entomological knowledge and general accuracy, was Mr. 

 Walsh, Avho, during his last years strenuously contended that 

 this insect was double-brooded. For several years I have 

 entertained a different opinion, believing that it was single- 

 brooded as a rule, and only exceptionally double-brooded ; and 

 the facts so fully bear me out in this opinion, that, were my 

 late associate here with us, to-day, I should bring forth the 

 testimony with a feeling of triumph, for he was not often in 

 the wrong ! It is worthy of remark, however, that Mr. Walsh's 

 first impression, as given by him in the year 18G7,* was that 

 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 experiment, is worth more than all the theories that 

 were ever conceived, or the phrases that were ever written on 

 the subject. 



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

 the fact that it remained unsettled so long would indicate the 

 reverse. One of your Avorthy ex-presidents. Judge A. M. 

 Brown of Villa Kidge, at my suggestion endeavored, in the 

 summer of 1869, to solve the problem by imprisoning the first 

 bred beetles and furnishing them with plucked fruit. Dr. 



* Practical Eniomoiogist, Vol. 1, Ko. 1. 



