12 



which I was for the first year of its existence Associate Editor, and 

 for the second year sole editor. These I have not thought it neces- 

 sary or advisable to reproduce in the following pages, because I have 

 aimed as far as possible to insert nothing here but what is original 

 and hitherto unpublished. On the other hand, certain other subjects 

 have been entirely omitted, because my investigations on those sub- 

 jects are as yet uncompleted; and others again, because they have ref- 

 erence to insects which are injurious, not to the Gardener and the 

 Fruit-grower, but solely, or almost entirely, to the Farmer. 



At some future day — and, if it be possible, by the time that the 

 next Biennial Session of the Legislature takes place — I hope to pre- 

 pare a General Manual of the chief Noxious Insects of Illinois, com- 

 prising all the known facts respecting them that ought to become 

 familiar to the intelligent Farmers and Gardeners and Fruit-growers 

 of this State, no matter whether those facts be already published, or 

 whether they be original. Such a Manual, to be of the greatest prac- 

 tical utility, would require to be very copiously illustrated; but a 

 State, that is wealthy enough to spend three million dollars on a 

 new State-house, ought to be able to afford a few thousand dollars 

 for the publication of a work of primary necessity for nearly nine- 

 teenths of its population. 



A few purely scientific descriptions, which it has been requisite 

 to insert in this Report, are printed in smaller type, because they are 

 intended chiefly for the use of the few persons, who may desire to 

 identify scientifically the species therein described. But even these, 

 I have couched, so far as possible, in popular language, occasionally 

 addhig tlie corresponding scientific terms in a ^jarenthis, where 

 perspicuity and precision required it. For instance, if we talk 

 simply of the "jaws" of an insect, an entomologist may be uncertain 

 as to our meaning; for in the typical insect there are two pairs of 

 jaws, placed one above the other and called respectively in technical 

 language "the mandibles" and "the maxils." But if we write "jaws" 

 (mandibles)," then everybody will Iniow what we refer to, with just 

 as much accuracy as his peculiar Avants may require. 



The illustrations furnished herewith have been drawn by myself 

 and engraved by Mr. Wm. Mackwitz, of St. Louis. Whatever defects 

 there may be in them must be laid to my door; for, like everything 

 else which that artist has hitherto executed for me, they are exact and 

 faithful reproductions on wood of the original sketches on paper. 



All which is respectfully submitted. 



Benj. D. Walsh, M. A., 

 Rock Islaxd^ Illinois, Dec. IS, 186T. Acting State Entomologist. 



