XXX1l1 
various authors—has now reached the Atlantic sea-board at 
several points, as conspicuously announced in the first page of 
Mr. Riley’s ‘Seventh Annual Report on the Noxious and Bene: 
ficial Insects of the State of Missouri’ for 1875. 
Various discussions have taken place in entomological circles 
abroad during the year, as to the nature and extent of the 
precautions which may be deemed fitting to guard against the 
introduction of this pernicious insect;-and, at the instance of 
the French Minister of Commerce, M. Milne-Edwards has sub- 
mitted a Report upon this subject to the Académie des Sciences 
at Paris, published in the ‘Comptes Rendus’ of that Institution.* 
The Belgian Entomological Society has also devoted con- 
siderable attention to this important topic, and has published in 
its ‘Annales’ communications from Dr. J. L. Leconte, of Phila- 
delphia, Dr. Hagen and others, reposing mainly on information 
derived from Mr. Riley’s previous Reports. 
By the additional information now supplied we learn that, 
according to previous computations, the Doryphora would have 
reached the Atlantic four years later; this increased speed being 
attributed to the aid which the beetles obtained ‘‘in their onward 
course, from ships on the lakes and from cars on the railroads.” 
Mr. Riley adds that “those who have watched the insect’s gradual 
spread during the past seventeen or eighteen years from its native 
Rocky-Mountain home to the Atlantic, and have seen how the 
lakes, instead of hindering its march into Canada, really accele- 
rated that march, by affording carriage on vessels, rafters and 
other floating objects, can have no doubt that the danger felt by 
our transatlantic friends is real.” 
He reiterates his opinion that, if the Doryphora ever obtains a 
footing in Europe, “it will most likely be carried there in the perfect 
beetle state ;” in support of which opinion he observes that “ while 
the beetle, especially in the non-growing season, will live for months 
without food, the larva would perish in a few days without fresh 
potato-tops, and would (he believes) starve to death in the midst 
of a barrel of potatoes, even if it could get there without being 
crushed; for, while it so voraciously devours the leaves, it will 
not touch the tubers. The eggs could only be carried over on 
the haulm or on the living plant ;” the former, “on account of its 
* «Rapport sur les mesures proposées pour prevenir, en France, l'invasion des 
Doryphores qui attaquent la pomme de terre’ (t. Ixxx., No. 10, p. 609—Mars 15). 
F 
