June 1,1882.] THE TROPICAL 
abound iu the hills of Ningpo, and, as their bite is 
rather poisonous, the inlialiitaiits would suffer greatly 
from LI. mi I. ut lor the munis jiirauirii or pangolin, the 
scaly ant-eater. The odour of this animal attrads the 
ants, as it lies with all its seales open, beneath which 
these iusects press in swarms ; then, when the scales 
close upon them, their captor repairs to his lair, and 
drops the asphyxiated ants preparatory to their deglut- 
ition. These ants are said to be between two and three 
indies in length, which is not at all incredible, if we 
can believe a statement published respecting a dismissed 
functionary in Chaouobou, who sent to his friends in 
the north, an ant pickled in salt, which measured a 
foot iu length ! 
On 1 he borders o£ Tungking ants' eggs are so abund- 
ant that a picid and a half are sometimes collected 
by hunters. Perhaps larvao are meant. They are con- 
sidered a great dainty, resembling flesh in taste. A 
certain species of red unt, which makes its nests on 
tree-tops, are also eaten with ginger and salt, used as 
a condiment. It is very pungent. White ants are 
used as food, but, being no ants at all, but termites, 
have no place in this note. Ants possess medical pro- 
perties, and before formic acid was prepared by chemists, 
they were accordingly used in the west. It is strange 
that the Chinese pharmacopeia, which abounds in 
bizarre materials, should not include this insect unless 
the "singlefooterl ant", to be named in the sequel, 
belongs to the formica Chinese pharmaceutists, how- 
ever are aware that ants yield "vinegar," and the 
earth of ant-mounds, which is probably (saturated with 
the acid or a formicate, is an article of materia medica. 
Ants have been turned to use also in the arts. A 
brief notice of a varnish-furnishing aut is found in an 
old work. "Records of the Wu State," in one of 
the districts of which, Changchou or Suchan, a cottony 
creeper grows, beneath which ants have their abode. 
By piercing the ground with the bark of the creeper, 
ants climb up it, and these produce varnish. 
In conclusion I may mention a unique insect which 
is denominated the " monopedal ant,'' and which the 
early Pwntaau recommends for boils and ulcers, the 
insects to be applied locally after being crushed. This 
" ant " has but a siugle leg by which it is perman- 
ently attached to the roots of a tree, and it possesses 
the power oi motion without locomotion ! 
THE RAVAGES OF "GRUB" IN CEYLON: 
I'KUl'OSED ACTION IN THE MATTER. 
Tho correspondence wo publish today shews that 
" some one had blundered," so that a letter intended 
to reach Dr. Trimeu when Mr. Ward was still amongst 
ns did not reach tho Doctor at Peradcuiya until tho 
Mycologist hail closed his own life history in Cey- 
lon, as well as tho whole life history of the left 
fungus. Would that be had closed the latter in he 
sense wo all desiro, and would that we could hope 
for anything better than learned and interesting dis- 
sertations on insect life from an entomologist speci- 
ally scut out or a coterie of consulting entomologists 
in Europe. " Bug " is tho generic term for insect 
in the United States, and tho " bug" literature of that 
groat country is in proportion to its vastneBS and 
the multitudinous peats which ravage the cott a fields, 
eat up tho wheat, ami chooso (chews) tobacco us a 
luxury when sated with more solid food. Oar readers 
are of course familiar with tho story of the Y.mkcc 
farmer who going out to too what was loft of his 
tobacco plantation had insult added to injury. The 
grasshoppers, having made a full clearance, wore ar- 
ranged along Ins fences, tJHtftitfi tvlxicco /mcc tti /<<"' ! 
AGRICULTURIST. 1067 
The poor fellow may be forgiven if he felt a little 
"mad," with the devastating "cusses." We 
have read and are still reading volumes and 
journals of "bug" literature, taking in everything 
between "the army worm" and the " Katydidr, 
and propunding innumerable remedies. But one aftee 
another has been pronounced impossible or ineffectiv." 
If we could venture to enclose flocks of pigs in our 
cofl'ee, we believe they would make short work of the 
grubs— but also perhaps of the coffee bushes. Full 
aud certain information respecting tho varieties of 
" grubs," and the winged insects which originated 
them and into which they turn, cannot but be valu- 
able, and an effectual and cheap aud possible remedy 
may be discovered. If, in the course of our reading, 
we can find it out, we shall let our readers know. 
"London purple" and a score of other things are 
effectual, if wc can follow the directions of the person 
who invented a liquid lor the destruciion of fleas : 
"Catch them by the neck and pour it down their throat." 
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE PLANT- 
ERS' ASSOCIATION OF CEYLON AND 
THE CEYLON GOVERNMENT. 
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE RAVAGES OF GRUB, AND THE SEKV- 
ICES OF A NATURALIST. 
The following has been sent to us by the P. A. 
Secretary for publication . — 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, 27th Feb. 1882. 
Sir, — With reference to your letter of the 16*th 
April last, I am directed to inform you that the 
Director of the Royal Botanic Garden at Peradeuiya 
has been consulted on the matter in question, and I 
forward herewith for the information of the Planters' 
Association the reply received from Dr. Trimen. 
2. The Governor desires me to state at the same- 
time that, if the suggestion therein made should be 
adopted, he will be glad to forward t he statement 
to the Secretary of State and to ask him to procure 
the best scientific advice obtainable in England as 
to the best remedial measures. — I am, sir, your obedi- 
ent servant, (Signed) J. A. Swkttexmam. 
for Colonial Secretary. 
The Secretary, Planters' Association, Kandy. 
Royal Botanic Garden, 
Peradeniya, 15th Februiry, 1SS2. 
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 
Sir,— In reply to your letter of the 27th April 1881, 
which is now received by me for tho lirst time (as 
an enclosure in your letter No. 10 of (iih February) 
I have the honor to inform von that I cm Id scarcely 
feel justified in undertaking an investigation of such 
importance and ditlieulty on a subject outside of my 
own studies. Such u piece of work would also of 
necessity require that much lime should be spent on 
estates, nnd tlus I could not give without neglecting 
the proper supervision of the gardens under my cha ge. 
2. It is to bo regretted that I did not receive your 
communication at the time when it was written,* and 
Mr. Ward WAS Still m the island, as he might have 
been willing to use Ins opportunitiet- during his 
frequent journeys in tho coffee districts of collecting 
information on this insect pest ; hut I feel sure he 
would not have considered himself competent to take 
up a question of entomology. 
• "The reason why* 1 should to Mated, it i* n new *>vle 
of business to write to a QUD in April ol nne 'Mr nod 
neuii bnu tlio letter only iu February ol the u. sit— liu. 
