Retrospective Criticism. 215 



scourge, as we have lately become acquainted with its larva and pupa in a 

 notice by Mr. Lekeux. 



" A communication from Mr. Mills of Durham, respecting the corn weevil 

 being effectually destroyed by the application of heat, deserves to be generally 

 known. Such notices as the above will convince the public that we are not 

 mere collectors of insects, but that we cultivate science in the sincere hope of 

 being able to apply our knowledge beneficially." (p. 3.) 



Turni2} Fly. — At the ordinary Meeting of the Entomological Society held 

 on Monday evening, a communication from Mr. Raddon, respecting the natural 

 history and habits of the turnip fly, was read by the secretary, which was 

 accompanied by specimens of the larvae and pupee. The larva is a small black 

 caterpillar, having six legs of about the eighth of an inch in length, being 

 extremely active, and hopping about with great agility, so as to render it 

 extremely difficult to catch it. Towards the end of the summer, it enters the 

 earth, and there undergoes its change of form, coming out of the pupa a 

 beetle. [It is creditable to the Society, that they have made this subject the 

 theme of a prize essay, and have been the means of bringing before the public 

 even so much as is stated above on the turnip beetle; for the pamphlet of the 

 Doncaster Agricultural Association on this insect, and the means of preventing 

 its ravages, published in 1834, is a comprehensive proof that the attempts at 

 preventing its ravages have been more numerous than the attempts to ascertain 

 intimately its personal history; which last object is the one that would have 

 most conduced to the discovery of what was to be prevented ; and, hence, to 

 the employment of the most effectual means of effecting this object.] The 

 best essay on the habits of the insect, and the readiest and cheapest mode of 

 preventing its ravages, is the subject of a prize to be given by the Society in 

 the course of the present session. (^Newspaper, Jan. 6. 1836.) 



Silkworms. — At the ordinary Meeting of the Entomological Societ}' held on 

 Monday evening, M. HofRnan of Munich presented a series of specimens 

 of the silkworm in its different stages. He stated that he had long had them 

 successfully in cultivation at Munich, were he had upwards of 30,000. In the 

 mountains of Savoy, where the cold is much more severe than in England, 

 they flourish equally well ; and he expressed himself confident that, both here 

 and in Ireland, the production of silk in large quantities might, with moderate 

 care, be successfully introduced. — ■ B. Jan. 1836. 



The Subject of the London Entomological Society's Prize Essay for 1836 is 

 the Coccus of the Pine-apple Plant. — The plan of the essay is, that it do 

 include a description of the natural history of the insect, and of a mode or 

 modes of preventing its ravages, founded upon actual experiments ; and be 

 accompanied by testimonials of the measure of success of the mode or modes. 

 Every candidate is to forward his essay with a fictitious signature, and the 

 testimonials, and a sealed letter including his real name, under cover, to the 

 secretary, 17. Old Bond Street, on or before Jan 4. 1837. {Mag. Nat. Hist., 

 ix. 219.) 



Art. V. Retrospective Criticism. 



Arboretum Britamiiciim. (p. 32.) — "The asterisk before 'Cheshunt, Mr. 

 Sanders, '^should have been omitted, as the place has little or no pretensions 



to an arboretum. Harrison's, Esq., place there is entitled, at least, to 



thet.— J. -ff." 



This error arose from some mistake, as we fully intended to mark Mr. Har- 

 rison's place with a *; as we were perfectly aware of that gentleman's possessing 

 an arboretum, from the comprehensive and well filled up Return Paper we 

 have received of it. — Cond. 



Wistaria chinensis producing Seed. (p. 75.) — Observing some observations 

 on a plant of Wistaria chinensis having produced seed at the residence of F. 

 Bernasconi, Esq.; and, having served that worthy gentleman in the capacity of 



R 2 



