{ 24 ) 



decim of Linnieus), which often do so much injury to our orchards.* The American Philosophical Society, by 

 calling the attention of the public to the decay of our Peach-trees, has brought us to a better acquaintance with 

 the causes of this decay, and with the means of preventing it. Insects are no doubt one of these causes.f We have 

 made some progress in preventing the mischief of the Bruchus Pisi, or Pea-Fly, which proves so destructive to 

 one of the finest esculent vegetables. But all that has yet been done is very little compared to that which re- 

 mains to be done. The subject is as new as it is important. 



I am very far from imagining, that the preservation of some of those species of birds which I have mentioned would be the 

 only means of guarding against, or of limiting, the depredations of aiiy of our noxious insects. In a system so 

 complex, and so difficult, as this, many agents must be employed. Most of them have a necessary connection 

 with the industry of man, which is an implement that gives him an immense, an almost unlimited, command over 

 all the living objects of this earth. It is in his power to increase or diminish the number of animals and vege- 

 tables about him ; and even to destroy whole species. Some of these means must be suggested, if they cannot be 

 put into immediate practice, by the ingenuity of philosophers, or observers. Their speculations will sometimes, per- 

 haps, be trivial, and useless. Now and then, their " wild blunders and risible absurdities " (to use the words of Dr. 

 Johnson, J on a subject, indeed, very different from the present) may for a time furnish folly with laughter, and 

 harden ignorance in contempt ; but useful diligence will at length prevail.'' 



The few facts which I have mentioned will be sufficient to show, that some good in the prevention of mischievous 

 insects, may be expected from different species of birds. Every American farmer's experience will furnish him 

 ■with some additional fact in support of this notion. If careful observations on this subject are made, we shall 

 soon know which are our friends, and which are our enemies : which deserve to be cherished and preserved, 

 and which it will be our interest to banish or destroy. 



END OF PART FIRST. 



POSTSCRIPT. 



J. HE preceding " fragmentary rubbish" (to use the words of Donne) is thrown upon the public with some degree of confidence : 

 — with confidence, merely because it regards a country, the natural history of which has hitherto been so little attended to. I must 

 observe, though perhaps the reader will not believe me, that I could render these pages more worthy of his notice. But I want 

 leisure. It is this want of leisure that has prevented me from publishing a number of tracts, relative to the natural history of 

 North-America, which have long lain in my closet, in a state nearly as imperfect as these very imperfect Fragments. Whether 

 they will ever be published, will depend, in some measure, upon the reception given to the present work. 



I ask, I look for, no flattering reception. All I ask, all I require, is to be informed, by those who love and study nature, that 

 ray present labours are not altogether useless, and unentertaining. Until there shall arise among us some happy genius, qualified 

 by that union of talents, of leisure, and enthusiastic ardour, which ia necessary to form the character of a genuine naturalist, every 

 collection of facts, every individual fact, that will tend to illustrate the natural history of the United-States, ought to be received 

 with candour, and indulgence. 



I have entitled these Fragments, "Part First," because if this is favourably received, I shall publish, in the course of the next 

 year, two other parts, relative to other subjects of the natural history of our State. I have made considerable progress in an 

 extensive work on the Vegetables of Pennsylvania, and some of the adjoining States. But this will appear in a separate form : 

 — I will not say when. For who does not know, that " the promises of authors are like the promises of lovers? " 



* It is only tlle female Cicada eeptemdecim that dopfl mischief to our orchards. &c. This she does by making incisions into the tender branches, to 

 deposit her eggs. In consequence of this operation, the leaves perish. The insect does no mischief " by devouring the leaves," as has been asserted 

 by some respectable writers. See Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. Vol.. III. Introduction. Page xxii. 



t The peach-insect (It is an Ichneumon) is observed to injure young trees more than old ones. Perhaps the best remedy against the mischief of this 

 insect is to dig up the ground about the roots in the spring-season, and to take out the larva or worm. This may be done without much difficulty, and 

 the operation does not injure the tree. Do not the peach-trees suflfer more from our late night-frosts than from insects? These night-frosts, 

 especially after rainy weather, in the months of February and March, when the sap is ascending, are certainly very pernicious. They occasion the 

 bark to crack so that the sap is permitted to run out. I suspect that this is one of the principal causes of the decay of our peach-trees. 



I See the Preface to his Dictionary of the English Language. Quarto edition. 



