PREFACE. V 



Serviceable advance continues to be made (by means of 

 practical field observation) in knowledge of habits of both crop 

 and fruit insects, which enable us to bring their attacks under 

 the power of preventive measures practicable at a paying rate ; 

 and besides increased information of measures which can be 

 brought to bear in ordinary course of husbandry, we have 

 advanced in knowledge regarding useful insecticides and imple- 

 ments for their apiDlication. 



Personally (as in each previous year) I desire to offer my 

 sincere and cordial thanks to the many good friends, both in this 

 country and wide-spread over the world, who have again assisted, 

 not only by the definite help recorded together with the obser- 

 vations in which they have aided me, but also by much kind 

 encouragement. 



To the agriculturists of this country, and also to our Agricul- 

 tural press, and to much of our general press also, I am greatly 

 indebted, and I think none of them will differ from my own full 

 belief (often expressed) that the greater part of such value as my 

 yearly Eeports may possess is as the record of the sound 

 observations which I have now so long had the honour of 

 receiving for publication year by year, and which I trust I may 

 still be favoured with. 



Of the wood engravings, those at pp. 11, 58, 96, and 105, are 

 given by permission of Messrs. Blackie & Son, of Glasgow ; the 

 moths with wings extended at pp. 66 and 69, by permission of 

 Messrs. Allen & Co. The moth in act of walking at p. 66 is 

 after Dr. Taschenberg. Of such of the other figures as are partly 

 taken from published authorities, the source is acknowledged 

 beneath the figure, or in the letterpress on the same page. The 

 remainder are from drawings made for my own publications by 

 Mr, Horace Knight, artist to Messrs. West, Newman & Co., or in 

 some few instances from my own drawings. 



Just a few lines may appear to be called for to explain the 

 great length of the report on attack of "Diamond-backs." So 

 far as I can judge from reports sent me, or from research in 

 previous records, this outburst (taken as a whole) was unexampled 

 in this country, and I have endeavoured, to the very best of my 

 power, to preserve its history accurately. To make this of value 

 for reference, whether entomological or agricultural, it has 

 seemed to me necessary to have certainty of the nature of the 

 attack as far as possible in every case recorded, and of effects 



