250 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



and convenience. It is by following out the law of deveTojy- 

 ment that perfection in breeds is attained ; which consists mainly^ 

 in providing for such wants as the nature of the animal demands. 

 Or to be more specific, in furnishing an abundance of food suita- I 

 blc to the age, and giving it at the same time, air and exercise ; 

 exempting it from hardships which prey upon the physical powers^ 

 surrounding it with luxuries compatible with its organization, and 

 finally, combining with all, a kind moral treatment. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION— No. 1. 



We commence with this number a series of articles upon the 

 insects which are injurious to vegetation, with the hope and expec- 

 tation that we shall be sustained in this new feature in an agricul- 

 •tural journal. We do not mean to say that insects have not beeo 

 the subjects of investigation before,, nor that they have not been 

 "written upon ; but we niean to say that suitable descriptions, with 

 correct and colored figures, have never been given in any of our 

 agricultural publications. For ourselves, we believe this is the 

 only mode which can be eminently and extensively useful. We 

 need say nothing of the importance of the subject, for we are sure 

 that there can be only one opinion, viz : that it is ©ne of the most 

 practical, useful, and important subjects to the agriculturist, espe- 

 eially when it is known that the number of injurious insects increa- 

 ses, and that they extend their ravages wider and wider every 

 year. To counteract their ravages, we must first know them ; 

 then, their habits must be studied and well understood. We are 

 then prepared either to destroy them, or evade their attacks upon 

 our property. 



Genus ^ Saperda, Lat. Plate III. fig. 1. Head vertical, a? 

 broad as the thorax, flattened, body cylindrical ; inferior lip straighl 

 without notch or remarkable fissure j thorax cylindrical, without 

 lateral spines ; antennae filiform, and terminating in an elongatei 

 joint. 



S. tripunctuta. — Color,'deep black ; fore part of the breast, loj 



