New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-03


PIEs BY TowNEsD GLOVER. Washington, d. {. 4o pP l2O
For many years past Mr.. TOwnend Glover,
the entomologist OF the Agricultural Department AT
has been engaged IN prosecuting
upon the natural history OF native insects i'll their
relations man. and has utilized his eminent abilities
as an in the preparation OF figures OF the more
prominent Species the different stages. including the
egg the larvae the chrysas, and the perfect insect, rs
well as representations OF the particular methods by
which they attack the various plants or each other
Instead Of using the pencil and brush however IN the
preparation Of figures Mr. Glover has been in the
habit Of engraving directly on copper from the spec
mems Themselves; and he has up to the present tme
prepared many hundreds Of octave plates, relating to
all the different orders of insects illustrating the HE
history OF four five thousand species
The immense practical Importance OF such work can
hardly be overestmated especially when We consider
that the loss from the OF the cotonworm alone
is estimated amount to $50 100000 annually and tnat
II ia only by the labOrs OF such men as Mr. Glover Prof.
Riley DIR. Packard Mr.. scudder, DIR. Fitch, and Others
that we are likely to obtain even partial remedy.
No publication could be Of more direct and practical i'm
portance than Prot Govers work, but its very magn-
ude and completeness have been In the way Of s
sentation 1t much to be hoped that Congress may at
an early date make appropriation to publish large
edition OF this work, and to place copy OF IL in the
library of every agricultural society 10 the country OF
at least authorize Its sale at cost to those who may
II.
ons many thousands OF copies would be disposed Of in
a short time.
The plates OF Prof. Glevers work. stated are oil
engraved and the manuscript OF the text accompany
several OF the orders is also finished. To provide
against the danger Of the loss OF single copy Of the
manuscript Prof Glover has at his own expense com
menced series OF photOthographic reproductions of
which first relating to the Diptera winged es.
is now before This which is published quarto for,
embraces thirteen large plates, preceded by general
introduction and followed, rst by arrangement OF
fanies second by list OF families and genera with
synOuy ms, habits food &c. third, list OF parasitic
and predaceous dptera fourth vegetable and animal
substances injured by diptera fifth insects Of other
orders destroying dpera destroyed by them; sixth,
names OF authors aud Of authorities quoted: seventh
abbreylations used; eighth principal genera with
derivation Of names; ninth, principal species with
derivation Of Names tenth, remedies or suggested
with list Of insects mentioned: eleventh synoptical
tables OF sections and families OF diptera, by Dr. lie
Baron twelfth, addenda.
The text Is written In dne delicate hand nearly Us
legble print aud although only copies have been
published yet these deposited in the prin
cpal scieutfc institutions the country they will
be more or less accessible and eau be used IN
the preparation OF a regularly published volume
The entire expense OF the preparation OF this work
which contains 100 pages Of text In addition TO the Is
plates has been borne by the author who proposes to
curry out MS pau III resaru 10 the remaining orders.
He has already made similar publication in regard to
the Orthopers. which. however will be reproduced &C
cordng TO the present plan.
An important feature OF Prof. Govers work in refer
to the natural history OF insects consists IN series
Of tables which indicate what plants attacked BIZ any
particular insect and what deren. insects nfest the
plant thus narrowing down very much the inquiry
on the part OF the inexpert As to the asthor
OF any particular class Of depredstious. Thus We
have o list OF all the insects, in their diner.
the root, the stem the leaves, the flower or the
boil, describing the particular nature Of their
attack and referring 70 the several pzYts of the work