which, as stated before, has proved a delusion, and is only 

 alluded to here as such. In the first place, there is a wild spe- 

 cies of fig, called Capri fig, on which it is said a certain insect 

 exists, which enters the fruit when in a youg state, at the eye, 

 thereby facilitating the entrance of light and air, or some fer- 

 tilizing vapor whereby the flowers are enabled to set and ripen. 

 In fig plantations numbers of this wild species are planted for 

 the sole purpose of bearing these insects ; and at the proper sea- 

 son the fruits with the insects are carried and deposited on the 

 fruit or shoots of the domestic species. 



" Without all this maneuvering it is faithfully believed that 

 very scanty crops of figs would be secured; but, according to the 

 investigations of modern science, it is proved to be not only 

 unnecessary but positively injurious." 



I am by no means a disbeliever of the process ; but for the 

 time being, and until the merits of the Blastophaga are proven 

 beyond a doubt, I shall weigh with much consideration the con- 

 clusions of the authorities I have quoted, and further, because 

 I have but recently made a very important discovery which gives 

 me new grounds for such a belief, which I will explain further, 

 on. 



BLASTOPHAGA (PSENES) GROSSORUM, GRAY. 



(Cynips psenes, Linn.) 



Male Magnified. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Female. Average length .08 of an inch. Wing expanse about 

 .11 of an inch. Color light brown. Antennae clavate, ten- 

 jointed, covered with fine hairs. Head sub-globose. Eyes very 



