INSECTS. 297 



gists, which well supplies the great want we had begun 

 to experience. I refer to a monthly publication, issued by 

 the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, in which the 

 questions, that are constantly occurring to farmers, are 

 answered in the most simple, clear, and satisfactory man- 

 ner.* Besides this, we find in our best agricultural jour- 

 nals, a page or a column, devoted to the consideration of 

 insects injurious to vegetation.* * 



For the sake of convenience and system, these notes 

 will be presented in the order of the approved classi- 

 fication of insects. Omitting further introduction or dis- 

 course upon the wonderful instincts and habits of insects, 

 and explanation of their metamorphoses and the princi- 

 ples of classification, and confessing my poor qualification 

 for the task, let us proceed at once to the catalogue. 



COLEOPTERA. BEETLES. 



In this class of insects we find both, friends and foes. 

 The former assist us by their voracious appetites, that can 

 only be satisfied with gourmandizing upon other insects, 

 particularly the juicy bodies of their larvae. The latter 

 embrace some of our most troublesome pests, especially 

 as they consume vegetable matters, in the perfect as well 

 as in the larval condition, and in both stages are exceed- 

 ingly voracious. Moreover, they generally commit their 

 depredations under cover, or at night. Some live in the 

 soil and consume the roots of our plants, and others mine 

 their way into the solid wood of the stems of our finest 

 trees ; while some only affect the twigs and smaller branch- 



* Practical Entomologist, 518 South 13th street, Philadelphia, fifty cents a year, 

 in advance. 



* * Vide Prairie Farmer, American Agriculturist, Country Gentleman, etc. 



13* 



