THE SO-CALLED JUMPING BEAN OF MEXICO. 319 



finished. The hole made by the ovipositor is extremely minute, 

 and if one is to be seen in the shell it may be regarded as a proof 

 that the tenant has quitted it for good. It has never been 

 observed to jump while enclosed in the nut. Some of the 

 smallest beetles and weevil tribes seem to be the most active of 

 insects. A few jump from the ground, and these are provided 

 with thick hind legs, the femora being straight, and the tibiae 

 relatively strong and long. 



From the great amount of damage done by innumerable 

 injurious insects, it will be apparent to everyone engaged in our 

 fruit-growing districts — the gardener and agriculturist, and, indeed, 

 of every country householder — that it is only by united action (in 

 which our feathered friends should be encouraged to join) the 

 work of destruction will be accomplished. For this reason, the 

 accompanying plates may serve to bring some few of the more 

 destructive weevils and caterpillars to the mind's eye, and the 

 more dangerous among our enemies recognised and destroyed. 

 The subject is one of much interest and importance, and I hope 

 to return to it at no distant date. 



Influence of Ether on Plants. — It is reported in the daily 

 press that the United States Consul at Copenhagen has made a 

 report to the Department of State, giving a description of an 

 interesting discovery in the physiology of plants made by Johann- 

 sen of the Agricultural High School of Copenhagen. The 

 discovery is that plants are susceptible to the influence of ether 

 or chloroform, but in their case the effect is to awaken them 

 instead of putting them to sleep, as would be the result with 

 human beings. Also, the plants are made to grow with great 

 rapidity in or out of season — a fact of importance to gardeners 

 and florists, providing the statement is correct. 



