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ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 
which is also the name under which it is entered in Dr. Mel- 
sheimer’s Catalogue (p. 130) published by the Smithsonian In¬ 
stitution. Although the name stigma is but incidentally given 
by Mr. Say in the extract above quoted, it still is a published 
name, accompanied with such a description as makes it perfectly 
clear to what species this name is applied. This is all that is 
requisite, in my view, to establish Mr. Say’s claim in the premi¬ 
ses. In how many instances have authors bestowed names ac¬ 
companied with no other description than a mere statement of 
one or two points in which the species designated differed from 
another known species. I consequently regard the correct sci¬ 
entific designation of this insect to be Chilocorus stigma. 
The larvae are of a dull white color, with black shining heads, 
black legs and six rows of long black thorn-like spines running 
the whole length of the body, one spine of each of the rows 
arising from each segment. The spines are branched, sending 
off numerous small slender sharp points on every side. Covered 
thus formidably with prickles, it is probable that these little 
alligator-like animals are never devoured by birds, and are able 
to pursue their useful labors incessantly and without molesta¬ 
tion from enemies. 
At almost every step when studying this department of the 
works of nature, we are meeting with phenomena which excite 
our astonishment and admiration. These lady-birds are destined 
to remain dormant and motionless in their pupa state, for a pe¬ 
riod of about two weeks, in the middle of summer, when all 
nature around them is full of life and activity. We should ex¬ 
pect they would at this time select some obscure retreat where 
they would not be apt to be noticed and devoured by birds or 
annoyed by any other creature. We have already observed that 
the leaves of the pine which are infested by the scale insect 
perish and fall, and that the twigs thus denuded become with¬ 
ered and dry. We should suppose that these dead leafless twigs, 
where it will be so conspicuously exposed, would be especially 
avoided by the lady-bird when seeking a place to repose during 
its pupa state. But, to our surprise, we find these insects at this 
time all crowding together upon the ends of these naked twigs. 
And they here fix themselves by their tails, and become motion- 
