268 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



ing therein little winding passages, in which they 

 finally complete their iranslormaiions. Hence 

 the plants sutler as much from the depredations of 

 the larvcB, as from those oCihe beetles — a fact that 

 has too olten been overlooked. The larvae of the 

 larger kinds are said to live exposed upon the sur- 

 face of the leaves which they devour, till they have 

 come to their growth, and to go into the ground, 

 where they are changed lo pupa3, and soon after- 

 wards to beetles. The mining larvae, the only 

 kinds which are known lo me Irom personal ex- 

 amination, are little slender grubs, tapering to- 

 wards each end, and provided with six legs. They 

 arrive at maturity, turn to pupa?, and then to 

 beetles in a few weeks. Hence there is a con- 

 stant succession of these insects, in their various 

 states, throughout the summer. The history oi 

 the greater part of our Halticas or flea-beetles, is 

 still unknown ; I shall, therelbre, only add, to the 

 foregoing general remarks, descriptions of two or 

 three common species, and suggest such remedies 

 as seem to be useliji in protecting plants irom their 

 ravages. 



The most destructive species in this vicinity, is 

 that which attacks (he cucumber plant as soon as 

 the latter appears above the ground, eating the 

 seed leaves, and thereby destroying the plant im- 

 mediately. Supposing this to be an undescribed 

 insect, I formerly named it Haltica cucumeris, the 

 cucumber flea-beetle; but Mr. Say subsequently 

 inlbrmcd me that it was \he pubescens o( llliger, so 

 named because ii is very slightly pubescent or 

 downy. It is only one sixteenth of an inch long, 

 of a black color, with clay-yellow antennae and 

 legs, except the hindmost thighs, which are brown. 

 The upper side of the body is covered with punc- 

 tures which are arranged in rows on the wing- 

 cases ; and there is a deep transverse furrow across 

 the hinder part of the thorax. 



The wavy-striped flea-beetle, Haltica striolata, 

 may be seen in great abundance on the*horee-ra- 

 dish, various kinds of cresses, and on the mustard 

 and turnip, early in May, and indeed at other 

 times throughout the summer. It is very injuri- 

 ous to young plants, destroying their seed leaves 

 as soon as the latter expand. Should it multiply 

 to any extent, it may, in time, become as great a 

 pest as the European turnip flea-beetle, which it 

 closely resembles in its appearance, and in all its 

 habits. Though rather larger than the cucumber 

 flea-beetle, and of a longer oval shape, it is consi- 

 derably less than one tenth of an inch in length. 

 It is ot a polished black color, with a broad, 

 wavy, buff'-colored stripe on each wing-cover, and 

 the knees and (eel are reddish yellow. Specimens 

 are sometimes Ibund having two buff-yellow spots 

 on each wing-cover, instead of the wavy stripe. 

 These were not known by Fabricus, to be merely 

 varieties of the striolata, and accordingly he de- 

 scribed them as distinct, under the name oi'bipus- 

 tulata, the two-spotted. 



In England, where the ravages of the turnip 

 flea-beetle have attracted great attention, and have 

 caused many and various experiments to be tried 

 with a view of checking them, it is thought that 

 " the careful and systematic use of lime will obvi- 

 ate, in a great degree, the danger whicfi has been 

 experienced" from this insect. From this and 

 other statements in favor of (he use of lime, there 

 is good reason to hope that it will effectually pro- 

 tect plants from the various kinds of flea-beellea, if 



dusted over them, when wet with dew, in proper 

 season. Watering plants with alkaline solutions, 

 it is said, will kill the insects without injuring the 

 plants. The solution may be made by dissolving 

 one [jound of hard soap in twelve gallons of the 

 soap-suds left after washing. This mixture should 

 be applied twice a day with a water- pot. Kollar 

 very highly recommends watering or welting (he 

 leaves of plants with an infusion or tea of worm- 

 wood, which prevents the flea-beetles from touch- 

 ing them. Perhaps a decoction of walnut leaves 

 might be equally serviceable. Great numbers of 

 the beetles may be caught by (he skilful use of a 

 deep bag-net of muslin, which should be swept 

 over the plants inlested by the beetles, after which 

 the latter may be easily destroyed. This net can- 

 not be used with safety to catch (he insects on 

 very young plants, on account of the risk of bruis- 

 ing or breaking their tender leaves. 



THE SEA DEVIL CAUGHT AT CHARLESTON. 



One of the fishing boats in our harbor had a 

 delightful excursion yesterday, without the use of 

 sail or oars. It appears that while the persons in 

 the boat were quietly pursuing (heir avocation of 

 hooking the finny inhabitants of the deep, off 

 Holmes' wharf, a monster, in the shape of a 

 devil fish, became entangled in the cable by 

 which the boat was anchored, and much to the 

 astonishment of the crew made off with her, tak- 

 ing a direction down (he river. Persons on board 

 other boats observing an unusual struggling and 

 splashing in the water, made off (o their assist- 

 ance, and after a hard contest of some hours, (six 

 boats, using some twenty oars, being engaged,) 

 the monster was brought up to town, and became 

 an object of much curiosity, being visited by large 

 crowds. Shortly after reaching the market wharf, 

 it gave birth lo a young one, which was landed 

 and placed in one of the stores. The old sea 

 devil measures about fifteen feet from wing to 

 wing, and about sixteen (Isetin length, being simi- 

 lar in form to the Stine;aree. It is supposed to 

 weigh about a ton. Tfie young one is about six 

 feet by five and a half — Charleston Courier, 

 27 th Jpril. 



Devil-fish— We have examined the prepara- 

 tion of this enormous beast — which has been 

 made by Mr. R. Waters — and is remarkably well 

 done. Few persons, even here, have ever seen 

 (his extraordinary monster, and it is believed to be 

 peculiar to our coast. Take (hese dimensions for 

 instance — length from mouth to end of tail 16J 

 feet ; from tips of wings 18 ft. ; of mouth 2 feet 

 10 inches ; disiance between the eyes 5 feet ; 

 weight 3,780 lbs. Among the remarkable pe- 

 culiarities ofstructure, maybe mentioned the brain, 

 which is small and only protected by the skin of 

 (he back — (he back bone, which is solid, fi-ora the 

 mouth to the tail ; the ribs, so to call (hem, which 

 hinge in (he back bone and run under the skin — 

 about the size of the finger and elastic like whale 

 bone — to the wing — gradually tapering as that 

 recedes to the tail. The general shape is that of 

 a sparrow hawk, with the wings fully extended — 

 wanting the head and tail. The tail of the devil 

 fish is a mere whip-cord. It is provided with a fin 

 on the back, at (he tail, which serves for a rudder. 



