LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. 
U. S. Department of Agricultur 
Division of Entomology, 
Washington , D. (7., January 3, 1888. 
Sir : I have the honor to submit for publication Bulletin No. 17 from 
this Division, being a paper upon the Chinch Bug prepared by my first 
assistant, Mr. L. O. Howard, for the forthcoming Annual Report. 
There are several important, or what the late Dr. LeBaron called u first 
class,” injurious insects, like the Chinch Bug, which I have so far not 
cared to treat of in the publications of the Division, because in past 
years, while State Entomologist of Missouri, I had occasion to publish 
pretty fully upon them and because there is little opportunity to make 
further investigations or experiments upon them in the vicinity of 
Washington. I have, however, endeavored to keep a record of every- 
thing published in reference to them and of the advance in our knowl- 
edge of improved means of controlling them. On account of the great 
interest felt just now in the Ch inch Bug and the prospect of injury from 
it the coming summer in the Mississippi Valley, and from the fact that 
the principal work to be done in preventing such injury is winter work, 
I have decided, with your approval, to issue this paper in advance as a 
bulletin, in order to supply the constant demand for information upon 
the insect at the present time. It may be looked upon as an emer- 
gency bulletin published because of the probable delay in the appear- 
ance of the more bulky annual report beyond the time when the inform 
ation will be useful for the coming season. 
Respectfully, 
C. V. Riley, 
j Entomologist . 
Hon. Norman J. Colman, 
Commissioner of Agriculture. 
