NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 179 
“ Our knowledge—that is, the knowledge of our men of science—is in 
a sufliciently advanced state to know what to do to check insect ravages. 
The life-history of nearly all crop pests has been worked out. ‘The time 
of egg-laying, the places selected for their deposition, the habits of the larva, 
the condition of the chrysalis, when there is one, the life of the fully- 
developed insect, are all known. The most effective way of destroying the 
insects, selecting either the egg, larva, or chrysalis state, is also known ; 
and much of this has been known for years. It is to be hoped that this 
collection will direct attention to this question—‘ How is it that with so 
much knowledge we annually suffer such great losses ?’ The question has 
been asked in America, where in many States there is a State Entomologist; 
and the answer has taken this form—‘'The mdividual application of the 
knowledge is of no good; it is useless for one property to be cleared of 
pests while surrounding properties still breed them. Combination is 
needed, and the interference of Congress can alone secure this.’ Dr. 
Leconte, in his address before the American Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science, at the Detroit meeting, suggested that the importance of 
combination should be urged upon farmers, and that information as to 
probable benefits should be supplied to them. Bills have been introduced 
into Congress on the subject, but the Report for 1867 of Mr. Riley, which 
has just reached England, does not show more than that earnest attention 
is being given to the question. That Mr. Murray’s hopes do not end with 
the arrangement of his collection as a means of usefulness is foreshadowed 
by a paper on insect damage he read before the Royal Horticultural Society 
a year ago. He wishes to see some united active steps taken for clearing 
whole districts at once of pests. If united action could by any means be 
secured, the work would be simple. <A scientific inspection of a district 
would decide with regard to a particular pest the condition of development 
in which it would be on certain days. Instruction would be given as to the 
course to be adopted, and if this were simultaneously acted on throughout a 
district, the pest might be checked, if not entirely removed. It is sincerely 
to be hoped that either some society or the Department will take so 
important a matter up.” 
(To be continued.) 
ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES, CAPTURES, &c. 
Tue WEATHER AND ITS Errects on LEpmoprrera.— On Ist 
June I captured a fine imago of Cucullia chamomille within 
a few yards of my house at Blackheath. ‘The usual time of the 
appearance of this species in the perfect state is during the 
month of April and the earlier part of May, so that the specimen 
in question had emerged from the pupa about one month 
