58 The Hunimin^ Bird. 



The usual time required for the full growth of these 

 reptiles is about fifty years ; but when they attain this fine 

 old age, they are usually very large and have a skin so tough 

 that they are of very little value lor manufacturing purposes. 

 When old, it is nearly impossible to soften enough its skin for 

 manufacturing purposes. The skins which fetch the highest 

 prices are those from two to three years old. 



In Vol. I. of the Humming Bird, page 83, I have already 

 called the attention of the readers of this Journal to the 

 farming of alligators, and the value of their skins for manu- 

 facturing purposes. Fifty years ago if such a thing had been 

 told, that a day would come when thousands of people would 

 find a living, and even make money with the farming of 

 alligators, every one would have laughed at the suggestion. 

 This shows us once more that there is scarcely anything in 

 this world, which one day or another, cannot be turned to 

 ofood account to the welfare of the communitv. 



A. B. 



Handbook of the 

 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA, 



Part II., by French. 



I have just received the book entitled as above, and I 

 congratulate heartilv my friend, Mr. Chas. French, the 

 Government Entomologist of Victoria, for its publication. It 

 is a very interesting and useful book which ought to be in the 

 hands of all farmers, and other persons interested in Agri- 

 culture. It consists of 193 pages of text, twenty-two beauti- 

 fully coloured plates of insects, and eleven black plates 

 figuring apparatus, and showing the way how to apply the 

 remedies recommended by the author, concluding with a very 

 good index. 



The principal insects figured are : — 



Green French Aphis (Myzus sp.) and its parasites. 



Common garden Ladybird (Leis conformis) . 



Black Peach Aphis (Myzus cerasi). 



The Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) . 



The Cherry Green Beetle (Diphucepliala colaspidoides) .■ 



The Cottony Cushion Scale (I eery a purcJiasi) . 



The Oleander Scale (Aspidiotus nerii) . 



Red Scale of the Orange (Aspidiotus coccineus) . 



Orange Moth (Hvdrusa sp.) 



The Orange Aphis (Siphonophora sp.) 



