FERNS. 517 














for this purpose, but has no notes of species feeding beneath 
the ground. Harris was of the opinion that the Striped 
Cucumber-beetles, in the larval state, fed on the roots of 
plants, but was never able to find them. I have demon- 
strated, many years ago, that they feed on the roots of 
melon, cucumber, squash, and pumpkin vines, and ever since 
I attempted to raise any kind of vine, my greatest trouble 
has been not to find them. 
The Chrysomelians, probably, as a rule, feed on the leaves 
of plants in the larval state, but in my limited researches I 
have found the majority of them beneath the ground. Ac- 
cording to undisputed authority, they often.congregate to- 
gether in great numbers, and do great injury to the leaves 
of plants, even so as to compare with the ravages of cater- 
pilars. I myself have observed some of this work. 
As the Cucumber-beetle exclusively raises its young on 
the roots of the Cucurbitaceous (gourd) family, so from 
these observations I am led to believe from analogy, that the 
Striped Turnip-beetle raises its young always on the roots 
of the Cruciferous (mustard) family. 
> 
FERNS.* 
BY JOHN L. RUSSELL. 
5 THe revelations of the science of geology have made it 
: ‘vident that in the early periods of the earth’s history, es- 
3 e ially in the formation of the coal beds, the ferns and their 
_ Mmediate allies formed no inconspicuous feature in the veg- 
tation, and that the diminished and dwarfed forms of the 
resent day represent the arborescent ones of that time. But 
Wint the present flora may have lost in majesty of size, it 
AS gained in greater variety, and of the elegant and graceful 
Oa E E 


tA Fem s, with the foreign 
Species 
Book for E ini the British Fern 
verybody, containing all tek “London, 1607. 
Suitable for a Fernery. By M. 0. Cooke. Small 8v0, pP- 
