State Museum of Natukal History. 59 



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The, Chinch-bug in natural size and as enlarged (about ten diameters). Color: black, 

 with white wing-covers, having a black subtriangular spot on the outer margin of each, 

 and two black veins nearer the base. The legs, the sucking-tnbe, and the base of the 

 antennae, are deep honey -yellow ; the feet and the last joints of the antenna? are black. 

 Length, about three-twentieths of an inch. 



The young, appearing early in June and late in August, are blood-red, with a white band 

 across their middle ; later they change to brown and afterward to black. 



I regret to have to report that the response given to the directions 

 of the circular have fallen short of their requirement. Plowing under 

 the infested areas has been quite general, but I do not learn that it has 

 approached the thorough character recommended. Burning has not 

 been resorted to, except upon the farm of Mr. King. The application 

 of gas-lime will probably not be made, to any great extent, as it is re- 

 ported as not easily to be obtained. Perhaps no other result should 

 have been anticipated at this stage of the attack, or before the absolute 

 necessity of vigorous action should be unmistakably apparent. Former 

 experiences show that our farmers, as a ruje, are indisposed to yield 

 ready compliance with recommendations simply, although calculated 

 to save them from serious pecuniary loss, particularly if such recom- 

 mendations involve any expenditure beyond that of quite a limited 

 amount of extra labor on their part. It would, therefore, seem to be a 

 wise economy for the State whenever a continued extension of any 

 formidable insect attack presents itself, that a prompt resort be had 

 to effectual preventive measures, through legislation compelling the 

 action desired and not otherwise to be had. Several laws for the pre- 

 vention and destruction of injurious insects exist upon the statute 

 books of European countries. In our own State and others there are 

 laws against noxious weeds ; and it would indicate an enlightened 

 progress if there were also those controlling the unlimited spread of 

 some of our more harmful insect pests. 



The distribution of the above circular has brought to light the 

 existence of the chinch-bug attack very generally throughout the 

 western angle of St. Lawrence county ; its presence on almost every 

 farm in the town of Alexandria in Jefferson county, and elsewhere in 



