1889.] 385 



Smews. 



Repoet of the Entomologist, Charles V. Eilet, M.A., Ph.D., foe the 

 Yeae 1888. Containing Reports from Assistants and Agents of the Division 

 (Author's Edition). From the Annual Report of the Department of Agriculture 

 for the year 1888. Washington : Government Printing Office, 1889 : pp. 53 — 144, 

 12 plates. 



Like its many annual predecessors, this Report contains very much of paramount 

 practical importance to agriculturists and horticulturists, and also of great interest 

 to entomologists. Indeed, it is quite evident therefrom, that all remedial measures 

 against men's insect foes that are not founded on comprehensive and particular 

 knowledge of the species of insects and their natural history, are empirical, and more 

 or less abortive. Several subjects are treated. 



The Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar, Herbst.) is fortunately not known 

 to us, although it is very destructive in America. 



The Fluted Scale {leery a Purchasi), we are glad to learn, has received a check 

 to its ravages, from several causes, in New Zealand and Australia, as well as in 

 California; with reference to the influence of parasitic and predaceous- insects 

 introduced from Australia into the latter country, it is said, " That Nature will, 

 with the conditions induced by these importations, come to the relief of the fruit 

 grower, and that this interesting experiment will result in the ultimate saving of 

 untold millions to the people of the Pacific coast is our sincere belief, which we hope 

 to live to see verified." Incidentally it is mentioned that Icerya sacchari, Sign., 

 from Mauritius, has been found to be synonymous with Dorthesia seychellarum, 

 Westw., and quite distinct from /. Purchasi. 



The experiences of the author in England, and his assistants in America, have 

 clearly proved that the destructive Hop Aphid (Phorodon humuli) migrates from 

 the hop to the wild or cultivated plum (where the eggs are laid and hibernated), 

 and back again to the hop, as first stated by Francis Walker, in 1848, and that from 

 the eggs of the migrated mother all the subsequent generations ai'ise, thus confirming 

 Lichtenstein's discovery of " stem-mother," " migrant," and " pupivora " forms. 

 Founded upon this knowledge, simple and inexpensive remedies are recommended, 

 from which, if carefully adopted, comparative exemption from the Aphids it is 

 stated may confidently be expected. Thus, this matter becomes of international 

 economic interest and importance. 



There is also an article on Silk-culture, and numerous notes on remedies of 

 various kinds for insect injuries. 



The plates contain excellent figures of all the insects referred to, diagrams of 

 apparatus used for destroying insects, and other subjects noticed. 



We regret that our very limited space permits no more than this indication of 

 the scope and purport of this valuable Report, from the study of which, all culti- 

 vators of fruits, trees, and plants, as well as entomologists, would derive advantage. 



The Bttttebflies of Noeth Ameeica : by W. H. Edwaeds. Series iii, 

 pt. viii. Boston : Houghton, Mifflin, & Co. ; London : Triibner & Co. 1889. 



We are sorry that space does not permit us to give copious extracts from this 

 Part. It is occupied by Papilio Pilumnus, Boisd. (an ally of P. Daunus, but with 

 three tails). Especially interesting are the experiences related of the mode of 



