As our State has had a thorough examination made of all branches of its natural history except its insects, it is of the highest importance that the remaining branch-not less in importance than the others-should receive attention. The committee feel assured that in the selection of Dr. Fitch they have secured a person every way competent to discharge the duties imposed in a manner creditable to the Society and the State.

In carrying out this examination it is desirable that equal prominence be given to economical as to scientific entomology, that being the part of this science which is specially important to the community at large. It has been objected to the volumes of the natural history of this State, that they are too purely scientific in their character to be of special value to the great mass of our citizens, and in the work now to be performed it is obvious that it will be of very little consequence to know that a particular kind of moth or fly is an inhabitant of this State, unless we are also informed of its history and habits, and whether it is a depredator upon any substance which is of value to man. The habits and instincts of our insects are a proper subject for inquiry as much as their names and the marks by which they are distinguished from each other. The whole history of every noxious species should at least be traced out as fully as circumstances will permit.

The examiner is therefore directed, in the first place, to make for the present season, the insects which infest our fruit trees the leading object of examination. Those infesting our forest trees, our grain and other crops, our garden vegetables, our animals, &c., will remain to be particularly studied hereafter. The examiner is desired in his examinations to search out every insect which is a depredator upon our apple, plum, pear, cherry, peach and other fruit trees, and study out all the facts in the history of each species, both in its larva and in its perfect state, as far as he shall have opportunity to do it. In this way a broad foundation will be laid to which additions can be made, which future observations may show to be necessary.

Should any important insect depredator appear the present season in any other situation than upon the fruit trees, the oppɔrtunity for studying it should not be neglected, for the same species may not appear again in many years under circumstances as favorable for becoming acquainted with its real history. Secondly, what time is not necessarily occupied in examining the insects infesting our fruit trees, should be devoted to collecting and classifying the insects of the State, and to naming and describing such species as have not been described.

A report to be prepared at the end of the season to be submitted to the Legislature, showing what has been accomplished during the season, to be divided into two parts. The first, upon economical entomology, giving an account of all that has been ascertained respecting the insects infesting our fruit trees, and any other injurious species that may have been obtained. The second upon scientific entomology, giving a systematically arranged catalogue of all the insects of the State, so far as they are known, with a brief description of such new and undescribed as may be discovered.

The work should be pursued with a view of eventually securing to the State as full and complete accounts of all the insects of this State as far as to place this important science (which is at present so greatly in the back ground, and so partially and imperfectly explored upon this side of the Atlantic,) in as perfect a position and as favorable a situation for being acquired as its nature will admit of. Should there be time, in addition to the above to perform other labor, it is desired,

Thirdly, that a commencement should be made in writing out full descriptions of the species pertaining to some particular order, with observations upon the time of appearing, habits, &c., with a view of future publication, so as to secure a complete account of all the insects of the State pertaining to that order.

Lastly, suits of specimens to fully illustrate both the economical and scientific entomology of the State should be gathered in connection with the other parts of this work, to be placed in the

cabinet of natural history; and in the agricultural museum, specimens of the wood, leaves and fruits, and other substances depredated upon by each and every species of our noxious insects, showing the galls or other excrescences which they occasion, the holes or burrows which they excavate, the webs or other coverings for themselves which they construct, with preserved specimens of the worms, caterpillars, &c., by which each of these deformities is produced.

Such further examinations as Dr. Fitch may deem necessary to carry out fully the objects desired to be accomplished, as from time to time may be deemed advisable, the committee desire may be made.

WILLIAM KELLY.
B. P. JOHNSON,

Committee.

REPORT.

By Asa Gitch

[COPY-RIGHT SECURED TO THE AUTHOR.]

Executive Committee of the New-York State Agricultural Society: I herewith submit a Report upon the Noxious and other Insects of the State of New-York, particularly such as are injurious to fruit trees, pursuant to your instructions, delivered to me in May last. I also present specimens of the several insects herein described, and of the vegetation as depredated upon by them, from which drawings may be taken for illustrating this report, and which are thereafter to be deposited in the Entomological department of the Museum of the Society.

It has been common in treatises upon economical entomology, to arrange the several species in their scientific order. Although this mode of arrangement has its advantages, it presupposes such an acquaintance with scientific entomology as but very few individuals in our country possess. A person who meets with à worm, say, mining a cavity in the leaves of the apple tree, and consuming their parenchyma, knows not whether that worm is the larva of a Coleopterous, a Lepidopterous, or some other Order of insects, and consequently is at a loss in what part of a work upon noxious insects, arranged in the usual manner, to look for an account of it. Even an experienced entomologist would be equally embarrassed in the case we have supposed, and would bẻ unable to decide whether such worm was a leaf-mining moth of the Order Lepidoptera, or a Prickly beetle (Hispa) of the Order' Coleoptera-so closely, according to accounts, do the larvae of [Assembly No. 145.]

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