40 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. V. 



comparative immunity of the whole country from the visitations of 



locusts. 



In Lower Bengal young rice-fields seem to have suffered severely 

 from the attacks of their constant enemy Hispa 3snescens ) but for- 

 tunately the Tiger-beetle, Cicendela sexpunctata, has appeared to 

 exercise a timely check upon the ravages of the insect. 



If we may take the meagreness of our reports as negative 

 evidence, tea appears to have suffered little during the year from 

 insect pests. 



A friendly critic has recently objected against these Notes on 

 Insect Pests their neglect of the important subject of remedies. 

 But our reply is that this subject lies completely outside the scheme 

 of a general Museum. 



To propose remedial measures — unless we would follow the 

 example of the sages of the Academy of Laputa — demands, to make 

 no mention of time and special appliances for experiment, a first- 

 hand knowledge of all the conditions under which any given pest 

 is carrying on its depredations such as it is impossible for a busy 

 Museum-curator to obtain. 



All that a Museum officer can be expected to do in this direction 

 is to make suggestions, for others, whose interests are affected, to 

 carry into practice, and to hope that the results may be communi- 

 cated to him for record. The part that a Museum officer can legiti- 

 mately take in Economic inquiries is to identify, describe, and figure, 

 as well as to preserve and distribute specimens of, the various 

 insects which are reported to be of economic interest, and further 

 to record for reference the season, place and manner in which their 

 economic influence is said to be exercised. 



In this endeavour, which is all that we have set before us, at any 

 rate during the last 7 years, we have, within the limits of the present 

 number, to record our thanks for assistance, freely and promptly 

 rendered, by the following gentlemen, namely, Sir G. F. Hampson, 

 Bart., Messrs. E. Brenske, G. B. Buckton, F.R.S., W. L. Distant, A. 

 Fore and E. E. Green, F.E.S., all of whom have very kindly named 

 specimens for us. 



I.-PESTS OF THE SUGARCANE. 



During the year numerous reports of the ravages of insects on 

 sugarcane were received from the North-West Provinces, from 

 Bengal and from Madras. 



