PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 28 



•ince, I remarked, as I thought, a carious fangus growing from the beams in one 



end of the loft. I cut a quantity of it away with my knife, and found that the wood, 

 which was partially decayed, was tunnelled out in every direction by similar larrss, 

 and even in some places the sound parts of the beams pierced like wood affected 

 with dry rot* The particles cut out during the process of boring were conveyed to 

 the end of the tunnel, and, being held together by a web-like substance, projected 

 in patches of from one-half to three-quarters of an inch in depth from the beams, 

 and formed the excrescence which at tirst caught my attention. Some time pre* 

 vious to this, the warehouseman called me to look at a large quantity of (.at be 

 thought; sea sand which remained after the removal of a quantity of wheat, and 

 which he imagined must have been mixed for the purpose of adulteration. On a 

 superficial examination the resemblance was very striking, bat on lifting it in the 

 band its lightness at once told that it was very ditferent. On close examination I 

 found it was entirely composed of the r^ectamenta of the larvsB alluded to. 

 The quantity on the loft was very considerable, which shows how destructive tho 

 moths are. The wheat is eaten in a peculiar manner. In every instance, as before 

 mentioned, the germinating end is destroyed, and the exterior coat of the grain 

 consumed in preference to the interior. In this they differ from the weevils, which 

 hollow out the interior of the grain, leaving the exterior almost antouched. I do 

 not mean to say that the larvae refrain from touching any portion but the outside 

 of the wheat, but that they appear to prefer it to the interior. It may be worth 

 mentioning, that in most cases where the cocoons were fastened to the walls, a 

 Dumber of these gnawed grains were attached to tho webs ; but this may, I think, 

 be perhaps attributed to tho wheat becoming entangled during the turning or shifting 

 on the loft. In the beginning of April of the present year 1 placed a quantity of 

 the wood cut from the beams, and well filled with larvae and cocoons, in a box, and 

 about the end of the month, on opening it, I found that a few moths had come out. 

 A peculiarity in their habit deserves to be noticed — namely, on opening the box in 

 which they were they did not at first attempt to fly, but ran quickly about, hiding 

 wherever they could amongst the contents, and, if well concealed, would not stir 

 nnless again disturbed. 



The species Avhich occurred were Tinea granella, T. cloacella (a single 

 specimen), CEcophora pseudospretella, and Endrosis fenestrella. Of these. 

 Tinea granella were in the greatest abundance. Their larva are about one- 

 fourth of an inch in length, and whitish, with a reddish -brown head; 

 chrysalis brown and semi-transparent. Numbers of these larvae were found em- 

 bedded in old wood, and very many of them also hanging from the outside of the 

 beam, presenting an appearance somewhat similar to the larvae figured and described 

 by Mr. Haliday, as infesting the horns of oreas canna, which larvae were supposed 

 to belong to the Tineidaa— Ktrfe Page 23, plate 1, fig. 3. 



The next in abundance was (E. pseudospretella : its larvae closely resemble those 

 already described^ difiuring chiefly in size, being larger and more active. The pupa 

 does not call for any particular description. 



As for that " universal scavenger," Endrosis fenestrella, I need say but little, 

 owing to its being already so familiar to entomologists. For the idcntitication of 

 the species enumerated (with the exception of T. cloacella, determined by Ktr. 

 A. K. Uogan), I am indebted to the kindness of £. Percivai Wright, Esq., who 

 forwarded them to H. T. Stainton, Esq. 



Mr. Andrews observed that the subject of Mr. Haaghton's paper was most 

 valuable, entering as it did upon a field of inquiry with regard to the destructive 

 properties of a class of insects whose ravages were not easily guarded against. 

 They were the pest of the naturalist (^?) as well as the farmer. He hopetl that Mr. 

 Uaughtou, from the favourable opportunities he had, would continue his observa- 

 tions, and endeavour to note the changes, and to obtain the pupa and perfect 

 insects, of the several species. They appeared more abundant in England than in 

 this country, and several species had been noticed to Mr. Andrews in the farm 

 granaries. The chief was the Tinea Granella. Preparations of vinegar and salt 

 had been used to destroy them, bat stronger remedies too Ircquenlly tainted the 

 wheat or other grain. 



