ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



227 



the difTcrcuc'c. The apple cuiculio spreads with 

 extraordinary rapidity, and destroys tlie frreator 

 part of the apple crop of Illinois. Tlie pinm 

 curculio stings, but docs not breed in tlie ainik^ : 

 the apple curculio makes a round cut, difficult to 

 see with the eye. The worm remains where tlie 

 egg was laid until it matures, when it comes out 

 and goes into the ground. He hoped this would 

 turn out to be the apple curculio. It is the apple 

 or plum curculio, for only one kind has been 

 seen to-day. Curculio can not fly under a tem- 

 perature of 70 degrees. Tliey lly against tlie 

 wind ; but as yet he had been unable to determine 

 the extent to which they migrate. "Whether tliis 

 be the apple or plum curculio, a gi'eat discovery 

 has been made."' 



All which verily surprised us. WhatI thccom- 

 Ijined entomological and horticultural wisdom 

 I if Illinois not able to distinguish between the 

 Plum and the Apple Curculio? Dr. LeBaron, 

 >(> far as we arc aware, lias never claimed to be 

 a<'(iuainted with the Apple Curculio, and we 

 believe it is of quite rare occurrence around 

 Geneva; he might therefore justly be cautions in 

 the matter. I5ut what shall we say of Dr. Hull. 

 who has so often spoken of the Apple Curculio, 

 and dwelt upon its habits, before horticultural 

 bodies ; and who must have slain such hosts of 

 the Plum Curculio with his powerful and pon- 

 derous machine. Not able to distinguisli be- 

 tween these two insects? Why. they differ more 

 ill the eyes of an entomologist than a sheep docs 

 from a cow ! 



The snout of the Plum ('iirciilii) (C'ono6'rtcAe/«s i' 

 nenuphar) hangs down like the trunk of an cle- 

 jiliant : it is short, stout, and docs not admit of 

 being stretched out horizontally forwards: and, 

 as maj' be seen by referring to our Figure 92, is 

 scarcely as long as tlie head and thorax totjether, ^ 

 and can be folded back between the legs, where 

 there is a groove to receive it. The Plum 

 Curculio is broadest across the shoulders and 

 narrows behind, and moreover, the black sealing- 

 wax-like, knife-edged elevations on the back, with 

 the pale band behind them, characterize it at once 

 from all our other fruit-boring snout-beetles. 



The Apple, or Four-humped Curculio {Anth- 

 onomus quadrigibbus, Say), is a much smaller 

 insect, with a snout which sticks out more or less 

 horizontally and cannot be folded under, and 

 which is as long as the whole body. Tliis insect 

 has narrow shoulders and broadens behind, 

 where it is furnished with four very conspicuous 

 humps, from which it takes its name. It has 

 neither the polished black elevations nor the pale 

 band of the Plum Curculio. In short, it differs 

 generically, and does not attack the peach. 



If the St. Josephifes were a wine-growing, 

 instead of a peach-growing people, we might, 

 in our own minds, have been able to account for 



tliis lack of discrimination on the part of one who 

 has said so much about both insects; but as it is 

 (for the tax on peach-brandy must certainly pre- 

 clude itn manufacture there) we (-an give no 

 other explanation than — well, more anon! 



THE 1)KATI1-WEB OF YOUNtJ TKODT. 



:.\i'i,ANATiox OF FiGuitK U.'^— (a) Liirvii, (lorsiil view, with 

 I'iiii-hiiapiMl appendages spread; (b) pupa, ddi-sal v'lew; 

 ((■) same, lateral view; (rf) same, %-entral view; (c) thor- 

 ueic prolej; of larva; (/) manner in which the circular rows 

 olhnstles are an'angecl at anal extremity— all the lljtures 

 bcinj; enlarged. 



The culture of tisli, and especially of the Trout, 

 is attracting deserved attention in this country, 

 from many persons who are at all favorably 

 situated for carrying it on. The idea of propa- 

 gating fish artificially is comparatively modern, 

 and when we reflect on the successor the enier- 

 prise, notwithstanding those who first talked 

 about it were looked upon as idle theorists; we 

 yet have faith that, some of these days, certain 

 beneficial and parasitic insects will to some ex- 

 tent be propagated and introduced into one 

 country from another — Utopian and chimerical 

 as the idea may now appear to most persons. 



To-day fish-culture has grown to be a most 

 important and lucrative business in some parts 

 of Europe, and it is fast aciiuiriug importance 

 in this country. It is an art yet in its infancy, 

 and the few enterprising men who embark in it, 

 in this country, will naturally meet with ad- 

 verses, and must gradually perfect their art by 

 dear-bought experience. Anything whicli will 

 lead to a better understanding of the obstacles 

 which render the business precarious, will 

 therefore tend to perfect the art, .and must bo 

 welcomed bv those interested. 



