THE BOSTRICHIANS, 



91 



externally, and end with a short hook; and the jonits ot 

 the feet" are slender and enth'e. This insect cannot he 

 retained in the crenus Scoli/tus, as defined by modern nat- 

 uralists, but is t; be placed in the genus To nue as ^ Ihe 

 minuteness of the msect, the difficulty attendmg the discov- 

 ery of the precise seat of its operations before it has ett tlie 

 tree and the small size of the aperture through which it 

 makes its escape from the limb, are probably the reasons why 

 it has eluded the researches of those persons who disbelieve^ 

 in its existence as the cause of the blasting of the limbs o. 

 the pear-tree. It is to be sought for at or near the lowes.^ 

 part of the diseased limbs, and in the immediate vicinity o. 

 Ihe buds situated about that part. The remedy, suggested 

 by Mr Lowell and Professor Peck, to prevent other limbs 

 and trees from beincv subsequently attacked in the same way, 

 consists in cutting off the blasted limb heloiv the seat of injury, 

 and burning it hfore the perfect insect has made its escape. 

 It will therefore be necessary carefully to examme our pear- 

 trees daily, during the month of June, and watch for the first 

 indication of disease, or the remedy may be applied too late 

 to prevent the dispersion of the insects among other trees. _ 



There are some other beetles, much like the preceding m 

 form, whose c^rubs bore into the solid wood of trees. They 

 were formerly included among the cylindrical bark-beetles, 

 but have been separated from them recently, and now form 

 the flimilv B0STRICHID.E, or Bostrichians. Some of these 

 beetles ar'e of large size, measuring more than an inch m 

 length, and, in the tropical regions where they are fouml, 

 must prove very injurious to the trees they inhabit. Tlie 

 bodv in these beetles is hard and cylindrical, and generally 

 of a black color. The thorax is bulging before, and the 

 head is sunk and almost concealed under the projecting fore 

 part of it. The antenna are of moderate length, and end 

 with three large joints, which are saw-toothed internally. 

 The larvae are mostly wood-eaters, and are whitisli fleshy 

 cmbs, wrinkled on the back, furnished with six legs, and 



