sion may
be stated to be the discovery of the best means of lessening the ravages
of insects upon American crops; but to learn this it will be necessary
to study not only the life histories of the grasshopper and Colorado
beetle, but also their climatic and geographical relations. The damage
done by insects probably amounts to some scores of millions yearly, and
it has long been apparent that one of the next services demanded of
scientific men would be efficient aid and direction in the warfare of
man against his smallest foes in the animal world. In the early history
of a country, it is possible to provide against these losses by
cultivating an excess of land, but when population becomes concentrated
it is necessary to avoid the loss. The destructiveness of insects has
never attracted so much attention as within the last half century, which
is also notable as a period of extraordinary increase in the population
of the civilized portions of the world. Now that the welfare of a great
empire has been seriously threatened by the operations of one insect,
and several States in our own country have been so overrun with another
insect that both the States concerned and the general Government have
been compelled to modify their laws in order to afford relief to
farmers, the important relation of insect to human life has become
clear, and is receiving due attention.

* * * * *

SURVEYING PLANS FOR THE SEASON.

The work of the Government surveys will not be stopped by the
unfortunate failure of Congress to pass an appropriation for the army.
Hayden's party Will be in field by the middle of May, and Wheeler will,
no doubt, be equally prompt. The former will confine his work to the
region north of the Pacific railroad and east of the Yellowstone Park.
The triangulating party, under Mr. A. D. Wilson, will survey a system of
triangles, and locate the principal peaks. Mr. Henry Gannett will take
charge of the topographical work in the western and Mr. G. B. Chittenden
in the eastern half of the field. A fourth division, under Mr. G. R.
Bechler, will survey in the northern portion, near the Yellowstone Park.
Each of these divisions contains about ten thousand square miles, so
that if the parties are able to complete their work, the ground covered
will be quite large.

* * * * *

THE CAUSES OF VIOLENT DEATH.

The violent deaths in Great Britain in 1