554 
THE PLUM. 
indeed, often tlie whole crop, fall from the trees when half or 
two-thirds grown 
If he examines these falling fruits, he will perceive on the 
surface of each, not far from the stalk, a small semi-circular 
scar. This star is the crescent-shaped insignia of that little 
Turk, the curculio ; an insect so small, as perhaps, to have es- 
caped his observation for years, unless particularly drawn to it, 
but which nevertheless appropriates to himself the whole pro- 
duct of a tree, or an orchard of a thousand trees. 
The habits of this curculio, or plum-weevil, are not yet fully 
and entirely ascertained. But careful observation has resulted 
in establishing the following points in its history. 
The plum-weevil is a small, dark brown 
beetle, with spots of white, yellow, and black. 
Its length is scarcely one-fifth of an inch. On 
its back are two black humps, and it is furnish- 
ed with a pretty long, curbed throat and snout, 
which, when it is at rest, is bent between the 
forelegs. It is also provided with two wings 
with which it flies through the air. How far 
this insect flies is yet a disputed point, some 
cultivators affirming that it scarcely goes far- 
ther than a single tree, and others believing 
^ its mark ^ ^at ^ ^ es over a w ^°l e neighbourhood. Our 
own observation inclines us to the belief that 
this insect emigrates just in proportion as it finds in more or less 
abundance the tender fruit for depositing its eggs. Very rarely 
do we see more than one puncture in a plum, and, if the insects 
are abundant, the trees of a single spot will not afford a suffi- 
cient number for the purpose ; then there is little doubt (as we 
have seen them flying through the air,) that the insect flies far 
ther in search of a larger supply. But usually, we think it 
remains nearly in the same neighbourhood, or migrates but 
slowly. 
About a week or two after the blossoms have fallen from the 
trees, if we examine the fruit of the plum in a district where this 
insect abounds, we shall find the small, newly formed fruit, 
beginning to be punctured by the proboscis of the plum-weevil. 
The insect is so small and shy, that unless we watch closely it 
is very likely to escape our notice But if we strike or shake 
the tree suddenly, it will fall in considerable numbers on the 
ground, drawn up as if dead, and resembling a small raisin,, or, 
perhaps more nearly, a ripe hemp seed. From the first of April 
until August, this insect may be found, though we think its de- 
predations on fruit, and indeed its appearance in any quantity, 
is confined to the months of May and June in this climate. In 
places where it is very abundant, it also attacks to some extent 
the cherry, the peach, and even the apple. 
