IIAND-PICKING. 307 



' When we get on a little fartlier with our inquiries into the 

 history of animals, and especially such little things as insects, 

 vou may depend on it we shall find the best way to check the 

 increase of any hurtful kind is to encourage any other animal, 

 whether beast, bird, fish, or insect, that makes the injurious 

 one its prey.' 



Hand-picking has also proved sei-viccable, but I am not 

 aware of any other plan that is of the least practical use in 

 destroying this insect. The rule which Mr. Newman has laid 

 down is a most admirable one, and is worth the attention of 

 all cultivators of land, wliether fur farming or horticultural pur- 

 poses. The 'Nigger' larva is shown on Woodcut XXIX. Fig. b. 



Tkere is a closely allied genus, called Selandrla, the larvse 

 .of which are singularly unpleasant to the eye, as well as 

 injurious to vegetation. Tliey continually exude from the sides 

 of the body a thick, sticky liquid, of a greenish-black colour, 

 in which they are completely enveloped. This is evidently used 

 as a means of concealment, for the larva does not move so long- 

 as daylight endures, but flattens itself to the object on which it 

 is resting, and looks like a mere lump of unpleasant slime that 

 has accidentally fallen upon the tree. In America these larvai 

 go by the popular and expressive name of Slug-worms, and 

 often do great damage to the peacli, the plum, the cherry, the 

 quince, and similar fruit-trees. 



Next in order comes the insect which is shown on Woodcut 

 XXIX. Fig. 4. Its name is Allantus scro'phularirp. 



In this genus the abdomen is longer and more slender than 

 in the preceding genera, the hind pair of legs are com- 

 paratively long, the clypeus is deeply notched, and the antennae 

 are rather slender, the third joint being longer than the fourth. 

 One of these antennae is sliown at Fig. g. The cells of the 

 wing-s are formed like those of Athalia. These insects are 

 very plentiful, and are decidedly pretty, the abdomen being- 

 coloured with bright yellow or green, the former hue pre- 

 dominating. In the present sjjecies the antennce are rather 

 short and thick, but in some they are mucli longer. There 

 are between forty and fifty species of tins large genus. 



The larva, which is shown at Fig. c, feeds upon the Figwort 



