51 



on these bushes, and the nuts correspondingly worm-eaten. It is nearly one-third of 

 an inch long (exclusive of the beak) and of an oval shape ; being widest across the base 

 of the wing- covers. It is densely clad with very short yellowish hairs and has a some- 

 what variegated or mottled appearance, especially on the elytra, due to patches of 

 darker hairs. The beak is very long, slender, curved, and almost black. 



iSo. 44. Balanimis rectus Say is generally known as the acorn- weevil, and is also 

 believed by Eiley to infest hazel-nuts. It is of the same size as the preceding species, 

 but much lighter in colour and distinguished by its more slender and less curved beak, 

 which in the female is longer than the whole body. This species is much more rare 

 (around Ottawa) than the preceding, but I have taken several specimens on hickory, so 

 that as regards this locality at least I am disposed to regard it as usurping the claim of 

 B. nasicus to be considered the hickory-nut weevil. A few specimens also occur on oak. 



The following three species belong to the Scolytidse, which are small, and often 

 minute, cylindrical beetles boring in the bark and surface wood of various trees, and at 

 times destroying immense quantities of valuable timber. 



No. 45. Xylehorus celsus Eich. is a small species bred from hickory twigs by Dr. 

 LeConte, and is recorded as found in Canada, but is not known to me. 



No. 46. Scolytus quadrispinosus Say is from one-sixth to one- fifth of an inch long; 

 entirely black, or black with brown elytra. The elytra have rows of deep punctures 

 forming striae, between which are rows of hardly perceptible punctures. This beetle 

 attacks the different varieties of hickory and is very destructive. The female bores a 

 little tunnel under the bark and deposits eggs along it. The larvae when hatched make 

 other tunnels out from this and thus loosen the bark ; they are short, stout, footless 

 grubs. 



No. 47. Chramesus Jdckoiice Lec. is a small species also bred by Dr. LeOonte from the 

 twigs and branches of hickory. 



The remaining beetles on my list of injurious species belongs to the family Anthribidse. 



No. 48. Hormiscus saltator Lec. is a minute cylindrical black species not more than 

 one line in length, with a short broad beak and antennae ending in a small club or knob. 

 The thorax is closely punctured, and the elytra punctured in rows. It is found on the 

 hickory in June, and probably bores in the bark. 



Further observations by our members will probably largely increase the foregoing 

 list, as I know that other species have been taken by me on hickory, of which I have 

 kept no notes. There are also three injurious species which I have captured on these 

 trees, but which I have not yet determined. 



There are also many beetles infesting these trees, of the habits of which but little is 

 known, so that I am unable to say whether they do any injury or not. Among such are 

 species of Cistelidae, which are found abundantly on the foliage or under the bark. 



As regards the measures to be taken against the ravages of these destructive beetles, 

 there can be offered at present merely suggestions. For those boring in the bark and 

 larger branches of the trees, it is probable that the soapy alkaline washes used as pre- 

 ventives against the borers in fruit trees will be equally effective. The species which 

 infest the smaller branches may be checked by careful prunning and burning in the 

 autumn of all diseased and dead twigs. As, also, a large number of species breed in 

 dead and felled timber, it is evident that the presence of such wood will attract the 

 beetles and help to increase their numbers. Timber when felled should be immediately 

 hauled away to a place of safety, and all the refuse burnt. All badly diseased trees and 

 standing dead timber should be felled and disposed of in the same manner. Those 

 beetles which are so numerously attracted to flowering shrubs, in the vicinity of the trees 

 in which they live, might be profitably collected and killed by children armed with 

 sweeping or beating nets. The gathering of all nuts which fall to the ground and feed- 

 ing them to pigs, or burning them, would soon diminish the ravages of the nut weevils. 



Although it was not my intention in the present paper to make any mention of 

 the various species of beneficial insects which I have observed on the hickory, I cannot 

 refrain from making a few remarks regarding two beetles bred by Dr. LeConte from 

 hickory twigs, viz.: Chariessa pilosa and Fhyllobcenus dislocatus. To those unacquainted 



