292 FIEST ANNUAL KEPOKT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



that the President and Mr. Johnson, Corresponding Secretary, be a committee 

 to prepare instructions for said entomological examinations. 



The following instructions to the Entomologist were prepared by the com- 

 mittee and delivered to Dr. Fitch : — 



ENTOMOLOGICAI. KXAMINATIONS. 



The Legislature, at its last session, having appropriated the sum of $1,000, to 

 be expended by the Society in an examination of the Insects of the State, es- 

 pecially those injurious to vegetation ; the Executive Committee having ap- 

 pointed Asa Fitch, M. D., of Salem, Washington county, to make the examina- 

 tion, the following regulations for the guidance of the examiner were prepared 

 by William Kelly, President, and B. P. Johnson, Secretary of the Society, the 

 committee appointed for the purpose. 



As our State has had a thorough examination made of all branches of its Na- 

 tural History, except its Insects, it is of the highest importance that the remain- 

 ing branch — not less in importance than the others — should receive attention. 

 The committee feel assured that in the selection of Dr. Fitch they have secured 

 a person every way competent to discharge the duties imposed in a manner 

 creditable to the Society and the State. 



In carrymg out this examination it is desirable that equal prominence be given 

 to economical as well as to scientific entomology, that being the part of this science 

 which is specially important to the community at large. It has been objected to 

 the volumes of the Natural History of the State, that they are too purely scien- 

 tific in their character to be of special value to the great mass of our citizens, and 

 in the work now to be performed it is obvious that it will be of very little con- 

 sequence to know that a partiqular kind of moth or fly is an inhabitant of this 

 State, unless we are also informed of its history and habits, and whether it is a 

 depredator upon any substance which is of value to man. The habits and in- 

 stincts of our insects are a proper subject of inquiry as much as their names and 

 the marks by which they are distinguished from each other. The whole history 

 of every noxious species should at least be traced out as fully as circumstances 

 will permit. 



The examiner is therefore directed, in the first place, to make for the present 

 season, the insects Avhich infest our fruit-trees the leading object of examina- 

 tion. Those infesting our forest-trees, our grain and other crops, our garden 

 vegetables, our animals, etc., will remain to be particularly studied hereafter. 

 The examiner is desired in his examinations to search out every insect which is 

 a depredator upon our apple, plum, pear, cherry, peach, and other fruit-trees, 

 and study out all the facts in the history of each species, both in its larva and in 

 its perfect state, as far as he shall have opportunity to do it. In this way a broad 

 foundation will be laid to which additions can be made, which future observa- 

 tions may show to be necessary. 



Should any important insect depredator appear the present season in any other 

 situation than upon the fruit-trees, the opportunity for studying it should not be 

 neglected, for the same species may not appear again in many years under cir- 

 cumstances as favorable for becoming acquainted with its real history. 



Secondly : What time is not necessarily occupied in examining the insects in- 



