May, 1914.] Egg-Laying of the Rice Weevil. 325 



into which the tip of the egg extends. In some cases there is also 

 a depression in the outer surface. As the second and third dis- 

 charges are usually not well tamped, they are seen as rough and 

 uneven masses above the first discharge. When the latter dis- 

 charges are not present, the stirface of the plug has a smooth ap- 

 pearance, and in the rather exceptional cases when the other dis- 

 charges are well tamped, they also present a fairly smooth surface. 

 The top of the first discharge usually lies even with the surface 

 of the corn. However, it not infrequently happens that the egg 

 is set so far into the cavity that the top of the plug lies some dis- 

 tance below the surface of the corn, but it never extends much 

 above the surface unless more than one discharge has been added. 



i 



^^^^^M^0^^ : ; ■;■; ■•;• \ ^■^-:■ • '" ; ;^-^" 



Fig. 4. Plug showing pit v j' >"-^'v"\:^ ' •" -v^- !■v^^'•■:"^: ;.'\,.'',-^: 



in inner surface. ■'".'•':^ \^'-''{'^-^ .■■:.\ 'J^'-^-^kV'^'^-. 



Fig. 5. Plug consisting of a single discharge of 

 material, viewed in normal position in corn. 



The plug may readily be picked from the corn by means of a 

 needle. The several discharges are usually very loosely coherent, 

 but, if the second and third discharges have been thoroughly 

 tamped down upon the first, all are more or less firmly united. 

 Usually it is not difficult to separate the plug from the egg, but 

 frequently they are so firmly joined that the egg is torn in separat- 

 ing the two. 



The materia] of the first discharge is colorless and translucent, 

 while tliat of the second and third discharges is opaque, and varies 

 in color from greenish or yellowish to a starchy white, and closely 

 resembles foecal material. Hence, if the plug consists of only the 

 first discharge, its apparent color varies mth the color of the part 

 of the com in which it is situated. There often appears to be a 

 dark area in the center of such a plug, which is no doubt caused 



