OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. 29 



enemy were its parents, and the original source/of all 

 the mischiefs. Middleton, in his '■^Agriculture of Mid- 

 dlesex " speaking of the Aphis that is so injurious to 

 the bean, tells us that the lady-birds are supposed either 

 to generate or to feed upon them''. Had he been an 

 entomologist he would have been in no doubt whether 

 they were beneficial or injurious : on the contrary, he 

 would have recommended that they sliould be encou- 

 raged as friends to man, since no insects are greater 

 devourers of the Apliides. The confounding of the 

 apple Aphis, that has done such extensive injury to 

 our orchards, with others, has led to proceedings still 

 more injurious. This is one of those species from the 

 skin of which transpires a white cottony secretion. 

 Some of the proprietors of orchards about Evesham, 

 observing an insect which secreted a similar substance 

 upon the poplar, imagined that fiom this tree the crea- 

 ture which they had found so noxious was generated ; 

 and in consequence of this mistaken notion cut down 

 all their poplars'^. The same indistinct ideas might 

 have induced them to fell all their larches and beeches, 

 since they also are infested by Aphides which transpire 

 a similar substance. Had these persons possessed any 

 entomological knowledge, they w ould have examined 

 and compared the insects before they had formed their 

 opinions, and being convinced that the poplar and 

 apple Aphis are distinct species, would have saved 

 their trees. 



But could an entomological observer even ascertain 



' Kirby, in Linn. Tram. iv. 232. 235. See also a letter signed C. iii 

 the Gent. Mag. for Aogust 1795. " P. 192. 



• Collet, in Month. Mag. xxxii.320. 



