264* Insects Injurious to Vegetation. [Oct., 



we perceive is partially inclined to " follow in the footsteps — " &c. 

 In his volume of the present year, (p. 152,) the subjoined para- 

 graph occurs. "In the Farmer^ s Dictionary, it is recommended 

 " to seed early," as a preventive against injury from the wheat- 

 fly." Far be it from us to accuse our esteemed friend of misquot- 

 ing his author. But if he will look again into the work alluded 

 to, he will read under the title, " wheat midge or fly" that " early 

 or late sowing will do little towards saving a crop; " whilst un- 

 der the name "Hessian fly, occurs the unquestionably bad advice 

 to " sow early." 



The scientific name, Cecidomyia destructor, bestowed upon this 

 species by Mr. Say, is the only one belonging to it, neither the 

 name Tipula tritici, nor Tipida vaginalis tritici having any le- 

 gitimate claims to be retained as synonyms. Mr. Say's name 

 might at first view be thought liable to criticism, as being in no 

 wise distinctive, many other species of Cecidomyians being also 

 destroyers. Yet this species is so preeminent in that particular, 

 as to throw the injuries inflicted by each of the others quite in 

 the back ground. We hence think it will be conceded that the 

 name is signally appropriate. Placed beside it, all its kindred 

 are mere depredators — this alone is the destroyer. 



other; or, in other words, that the common names should in all cases where 

 practicable, be translations of the technical names. Cecidomijia tritici, liter- 

 ally rendered in English, is gall-fly of the wheat; but inasmuch as this species 

 does not produce galls, there is an obvious impropriety in retaining that word. 

 Wheat- fly thus becomes the most direct translation of the technical name, that 

 the habits of the insect admit of. No one will maintain that wheat-midge is 

 a translation. 



But, inasmuch as the name Jly is bestowed upon such a vast host of in- 

 sects, of different families, and even different orders, we by no means disap- 

 prove of the attempt of recent English writers to bring the word midge into 

 current use, as a generic or family term for all the minute species of Tipulidae. 



