200 
THRirS. 
young flowers to decay ; thus preventing the 
growth of the embryo grain. This opinion how- 
ever has by some been considered as erroneous, 
who have contended that the Thrips does not 
attach itself to such of the Cerealia as are in a 
perfectly healthy state, but rather to such as are 
diseased by having the germina covered with the 
dust of a very minute fungus, often growing on 
wheat, &c. and belonging to the genus vEcidium 
or Lycoperdon, and which makes its appearance 
in the form of a flattish, smooth, irregular exsu- 
dation of a yellow colour on various parts of the 
plant*. The ingenious Mr. Kirby however seems 
convinced that the Thrips is in reality an insect 
highly injurious to corn, by deriving its nourish- 
ment from the embryo grains. 
* See much on this subject in the Transactions of the Linnaean 
Society, vols, 3, 4, and 5. 
