CHAP, x.] LEGAL EXPERIENCES 71 



through which the bags of flour would pass during the 

 voyage there would certainly by the date of arrival at 

 Durban, on or about September i4th, have been so great 

 an amount of infestation in all stages, thai it could not 

 have been overlooked. And by the further dates named, 

 in the following October and November, it would have been 

 overwhelming. The exceedingly high temperatures through 

 which the shipment wolld pass are known to be very 

 favourable to rapid propagation of successive genera- 

 tions of Tribolium. It is to be borne in mind that 

 the infestation does not lie in a torpid state, but after 

 hatching from the egg (sometimes inaccurately called 

 the " germ "), which soon occurs in high temperatures, 

 it passes through the changes from larva (or grub) to 

 chrysalis, and beetle condition more or less, quickly accord- 

 ing to warmth of locality ; and then the male and female 

 beetles pair, and in the ordinary course die, in the case of 

 the female after egg-laying. Examination of the condition 

 of the flour, had infestation been present, would have shown 

 not only the living infestation, but also the dead bodies 

 of the previous generations of beetles, which being of a hard 

 and horny nature externally, would not have decayed in the 

 flour. 



" Further, not only is great warmth favourable to increase of 

 Tribolium, but also the conditions, when flour is placed in 

 bags and left unopened for any length of time, are especially 

 suited to their propagation. I can also state that the effect 

 of Tribolium infestation on flour is such that its presence 

 even to a small amount could not be unobserved, and these 

 characteristics were wholly absent in the flour submitted to 

 me. To the best of my knowledge and belief I consider it 

 to be absolutely and demonstrably impossible that the 

 infestation regarding which the inquiry is now before me 

 could have been shipped from New York, and after the 

 most careful examination and investigation which I am able 

 to make, I consider that the infestation took place after the 

 arrival of the flour at Durban. 



" May I, in addition to the above opinion, be permitted to 

 suggest to you that as this investigation is one of great 

 importance, it might be satisfactory to yourselves if you 

 were also to submit the samples, which I have re-secured 

 under my own seal, to Mr. Oliver E. Janson, F.E.S., as 

 being a skilled entomologist, and so well qualified by 

 personal observation and scientific knowledge of the 

 Coleoptera (beetles), to give a correct opinion in the present 



