18 



THE AMEKICANIENTOMOLOGIST. 



the oyster, clam, and snail may be taken as ex- 

 amples. The dtli grand branch is the Star ani- 

 mals (liadiata), represented by the sea-urcliins 

 and star fish found on the sea coasts, and liav- 

 ing- bodies ai-ranged on the plan of an asterisk 

 or (*). 



Of these four gxand branches, it is only with 

 the two first that the American Agriculturist is 

 brought into immediate contact. For, although 

 in Europe many snails and slugs are verj^ 

 destructive in the garden and the field, yet none 

 of them are materially injurious to man in the 

 United States. As to the fourth branch, the 

 Star animals, they are peculiar to the water; 

 and with the exception of a few minute species 

 that inhabit fresh water, they are peculiar to the 

 salt waters of the ocean. 



AD INTERIM COMMITTEES. 



To the Ohio State Horticultural Society, we 

 believe, is due the credit of initiating tlie ap- 

 pointment of an ad interim committee. The 

 Illinois State Horticultural Society, however, 

 has had the wisdom to follow her example, hav- 

 ing had such a committee for the past two years, 

 wliile the Missouri State Horticultural Society 

 also appointed one at its last session. It is the 

 duty of the gentlemen forming these committees 

 to visit during- the year the diflierent iruit 

 regions of the State, and report the result of 

 their observations at the meeting of their 

 Society. The committee is divided into sub- 

 committees, and the time of meeting, in any 

 given locality, is specified by printed pro- 

 gramme. We have had the pleasure of meeting 

 witli these gentlemen on several occasions 

 while on their travels, and the good that they 

 are doing is incalculable. To discover the cause 

 of disease in fruit trees is one of their special 

 aims, and the present year has been a most 

 favorable one to make investigations. Rot, 

 mildew, parasitic fungus, and the work of in- 

 sects have met them at every turn, and no doubt 

 their reports will be fraught with good results 

 and new discoveries. While it is the aim of our 

 little journal to clear up the mysteries in which 

 many diseases of an insect nature are involved, 

 and to point out the remedy ; we wish also par- 

 ticularly to impress vqiou our readers, that, in 

 consideration of the intimate relation wliich the 

 effect of insect work often bears to that of 

 parasitic attacks of a vegetable nature, funguses, 

 etc., we shall, with pleasure, publish any sci- 

 entific discoveries or observations with re- 

 gard to these rots or diseases, and also give any 

 information upon this subject that may be within 

 our power. 



TO THE SUBSCRIBERS OP THE PRACTICAL 

 ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The present number of the American Ento- 

 mologist will be sent to every subscriber, whose 

 name was on the books of the old Practical 

 Entomologist at the time of its demise. It is 

 sent thus as a sample, and will be discon- 

 continued unless the subscription price, $1.00, 

 be remitted before the appearance of our second 

 number. "We hope that every one of the old 

 subscribers will not only remit their own names, 

 but will show the paper to any of their neigh- 

 bors who are interested in tliis matter. 



ON OUR TABLE. 



A New Wokk on Lepidoptera. — We ac- 

 knowledge the receipt of the first number of 

 " Tlie Butterflies of North America," by Wm. 

 H. Edwards. This work is to be issued in 

 numbers, and each number will contain five 

 plates, drawn on stone, life size, and carefully 

 colored from nature. Twelve or more numbers 

 will make a volume, and each volume will be 

 complete in itself. 



If the future numbers shall bear the same 

 marks of care, correctness, and artistic skill, as 

 does this first number, we shall, without 

 hesitancy, declare it the finest work of the kind 

 ever published in this or any other country. 

 Argynnis jyiana, A. Cybele, A. Aphrodite, A. 

 Atlantis, and A. JSFokomis are figured in this 

 number. We regret that the author lias been 

 unable to give with them their preparatory 

 stages. Price, $2.00 per number. Address E. 

 T. Cresson, No. 618 South Thirteenth street, 

 PMladelphia. 



Popular American Entomology, being a 

 Guide to the Study of Insects ; by A. S. Packard, 

 Jr., M.D., of Salem, Mass. — Another work now 

 being issued in parts, the second number of 

 which has just been received from the author. 

 Our space forbids a proper notice this month. 

 It fills a gap in American Entomological litera- 

 ture, is well written and amply illustrated, and 

 we hope will meet with the success it deserves. 

 But why are the classifications of Kirby and 

 Spence, Westwood, etc., omitted in the tabular 

 views of the difterent systems? Subscriptions 

 received by the author. Each number 50 cents. 



The "Canadian Entomologist." — A little 

 eight page monthly, published at Toronto, and 

 edited by the Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, of Credit, 

 Ontario, Canada. The first number is just re- 

 ceived. AVe wish it success, and hope that our 

 Canadian friends are sufiiciently awakened on 

 the subject to properly support it. It is pub- 

 lished at 50 cents per volume. 



