l895-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 117 



It seems to me that entomologists are of two kinds : First, amateurs, 

 who have learned what little they do know by the hardest means, and 

 who are yet timid about asserting what they do know ; Second, fullfledged 

 entomologists, born fullgrown with a net in their hands. I do not think 

 the latter class have a contempt for the former, but through a lack of 

 knowledge of the e.xperiences of the first they act as they would act if 

 they did have a contempt for the first class. 



You will certainly understand that in my remarks I do not intend to 

 make any strictures upon the News ; but I am merely trying to state facts, 

 as nearly as I can see them, that renders it undesirable to subscribe for 

 the News.— N. A. H. 



We have published this letter, as it is one of a kind that we receive not 

 infrequently. The News, as one of our former subscribers termed it, 

 "shoots over the heads of some people." Now, the question is, how can 

 this be remedied ? The author of this letter claims to be a teacher of 

 entomology, not from books, but from the insects themselves. He is the 

 very man to give us an occasional popular article. The editors can't 

 afford to write popular articles to make up each issue of the News, as 

 they have not the time so to do, and they are entirely dependent on sub- 

 scribers for such article-s. We try to have something in each number of 

 interest to every one, and if we fail we can't help it. Some time ago we 

 sent out circulars to all subscribers asking for popular articles, but they 

 came not. If any subscriber fails to find .one dollar's worth in the three 

 hundred and twenty or more pages of News we give for that amount, he had 

 better invest his money in some other channel and become a millionaire. 

 It will be found that the articles in the News are written pretty much 

 by the same people each year, and, while we are more than pleased with 

 them, we would also like to hear from the people who are always talking 

 about a more popular journal. We think many subscribers must be under 

 the impression that the News is a money-making scheme, and that those 

 conducting it are making a fortune. The editors and all those connected 

 with it subscribe their dollar, and they think they get an ample return ; 

 moreover, the American Entomological Society aids the News financially, 

 and every subscriber is indebted to said society, as it pays part of each 

 subscription. Now, ye lovers of popular articles turn in and do your share 

 and stop growling. 



The striped turnip-beetle, Hallica nemorum, commonly called the 

 Tiirnip-fly, Turtnp-flea, Earth-flea-beetle, Black-jack, etc., is a well- 

 known species from the ravages the perfect insect commits upon the 

 turnip. In Devonshire, England, in the year 1786, the loss caused by 

 these insects alone was valued at ^100,000 sterling. And in the Spring of 

 1837 the vines in the neighborhood of Montpellier were attacked to so 

 great an extent by another species, Haltica oleracea, in the perfect state, 

 that fears were entertained for the plants, and religious processions were 

 instituted for the purpose of exorcising the insects.— O/r^w Farm Insects, 

 p. 22. 



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