394 
'The mediterranean Naturalist 
Quand les pluies tombaient, il se dirigeaif vers 
d’autres vallees, pcrmettant aux arbresde cellequ’ 
il quittait de croitre, afiu d’etre en etat lorsqn’il 
y serait ramene par la vallee avait ete occupee par 
line faniille dont la souclie se trouvait dans la val- 
lee du Nil. 
Somme toute il semble evident que la nature 
a cree dans la chameau un monstre qui, dans ce 
pays, la devore continuellement etque ce qui s’ap- 
plique a cette contree, s’appliquerait egalement a 
toutes celles dont le sol et le cliinat sent suscep- 
tibles de produire des arbustes sauvages, mais 
non de supporter la culture. La nature, parait-il, 
est lentement, mais siirement battue en breche par 
le chameau et par la hache, compagne inevitable 
mais imprevoyante du chameau. La nature cepen- 
dant resiste avec energie. Cette annee, des pluies 
abondantes sont tombees dans les montagnes ; 
les Arabes n’y ont repondu qu’en y envoy ant pai- 
tre un plus grand nombre de chameaux. 11 est 
done evident qu’une longue periode de tranquillity 
dans la vallee du Nil aidera les Arabes dans leur 
oeuvre de destruction, au point que les brebis et 
les chevres devront suivreun jour l’autruche, l’ane 
sauvage et la vache, et que les Balanites disparai- 
tront cornme le Lehema ou Taberne montana. 11 
y a plus de verite qu’on ne le croirait de prime 
abord, dans le recit que font les Arabes aux voya- 
geurs de la Palestine. Ils disent et e’est generale- 
ment pour plaisanter, qu’autrefois il y avait des 
lions en Palestine et qu’ils ont fui, effrayes par le 
chameau. Il est probable que le chameau a chasse 
le lion de la Palestine, non par ses grognements, j 
mais en consommant les arbustes qui alimentaient 
les proies des lions. 
The Orange Disease in Cape Colony 
Ceratitis citriperda— (Mac Leay). 
“ Orange Fly” “ Trypeta Fly” Peach Maggot ,” 
“ Fruit Grub” “ Apricot Worm” 
By S. D. Bairstow, F.L.S. (1) 
A true naturalist is, among other things, a phy- 
siologist. A physiologist is, or should be, not only 
versed in the science of animated nature, but con- 
(1)F Worn the Agricultural Journal. Cape Colony 
stitute himself an acute observer, a student of 
habits, haunts, appetites, modes of propulsion and 
propagation, structural peculiarities of strength 
and of weakness — strength to overcome or weak- 
ness to attack. Economic entomology deals more 
especially with those insects which are inimical to 
man’s interests, and, in this branch of science — a 
useful and most important one — such points of 
study are vital and demand precognition. Disco- 
very precedes, rectification, follows. It would be 
pleasant to realise that every farmer or horticul- 
turist has an elementary knowledge of natural 
h.istory| sufficient to qualify him for combating or- 
dinary pests. A little knowledge born of tuition 
is desirable before we adopt sweeping measures 
or sink into the apathy which springs from disgust 
and disheartening losses. In this country, I am 
compelled to submit, there is one huge encum- 
brance to be lifted. It is quite useless preaching me- 
thods of pest-removal and destruction, unless we 
first assure ourselves such measures are really need- 
ful — that Heaven help those who help themselves; 
that curses are not curses, but blessings disguised ; 
teaching us to work, giving us power to overcome, 
and enforcing codes of cleanliness and pest-remo- 
val. We suffer to day what we need not suffer 
Long neglect has increased our responsibilities, 
but it is never too late to mend. Want of attention 
and ordinary care promotes the increase of inju- 
rious insects, and whilst species of ceratitis have 
not perhaps received invitation cards to wait 
upon orchard cultivators or fruit-vendors, they 
were not rejected when they came in ever increa- 
sing numbers— and they have prospered* 
Ceratitis citriperda has no marked peculiarity 
of pedigree. Originally an egg, then a maggot, then 
a chrysalis, it poses finally as a fly or perfect insect. 
Belonging to the aristocratic order of Diptera , it 
lives as an insect of suction. The hind wings being 
absent, nature provides a pair of halteres, balan- 
cers or poisers, which assist in regulating flight. 
But Ceratitis is by no means an active, swift aero- 
naut, unless startled or pressed to action, prefer- 
ring to “sail” upon its legs in an ambling fashion, 
a ship on wheels, amongst the sun-glinted foliage, 
rather than aimlessly dash amidst unfertile and 
uncongenial pastures. But it is quick enough on 
man’s approach, and wall calmly await a visitor or 
