40 



HARRIS TO HENTZ. 



Milton, Nov. 19, 1828. 



Your dissertation on the culture of silk came safely to hand, 

 and after reading the papers I sent them to my friend, I. M. 

 Gourgas, a German by birth, who is zealously engaged in pro- 

 moting this pursuit. My honored mother has raised silk 

 worms for more than ten years, and supplied herself with all 

 her sewing-silk from their labors. On my fathers place are 

 many of the white mulberry trees, which are found to produce 

 the best silk. Mrs. Harris never raises but one crop in a year. 



Having been repeatedly called upon for entomological com- 

 munications in the "New Enoland Farmer," I have concluded 

 to publish in it some of my manuscript descriptions, with the ad- 

 dition of popular remarks. Several numbers have been printed, 

 which I send you as a sample. The next communication contains 

 eleven new Dyticidce. This will be followed by some of the 

 Elateridoi, including two new subgenera of my own, viz. : No- 

 thora, containing the species with pectinated nails ; and Tapliei- 

 cerus, in which the suture between the ora and antepectus is 

 dilated to receive and bury the antenna. In this subgenus the 

 antennas are very short, the thorax is gibbovis, and the body 

 is very much covered with scales, or short, flattish bristles; 

 though nearly related, it differs from Eucnemis Ahr. and 

 Mann., in which the mouth is entirely retracted, the antennaa 

 very much njtproximated at base, the prosternum very short, so 

 that the power of lea])ing is weak ; and the posterior coxa3 very 

 much dilated, so as to conceal the greater part of the thighs. 



I am aware that the "New England Farmer" is not likely 

 to be much circulated among men of science, and therefore 

 will not be considered the best authority ; but it is a conven- 

 ient vehicle at present ; and, such is the ambition of European 

 entomologists to anticij)atc Americans, that I willingly yield to 

 the solicitations of several friends in publishing what may pos- 



