Entomological Notes. 299 



custom, when the buds begin to swell, to go and look, especially 

 upon the outer rows. They do not appear to hibernate in the vine- 

 yard itself, but upon the adjoining grass ground, or other sub- 

 stances about. Their color is so brilliant that you cannot mistake 

 it with any reasonably sharp eyes; it is strongly in contrast with 

 "the brown color of the wood on the vines. It is easy to see them, 

 and you have only to crush them with your finger to make an end 

 of them. If it is cool weather, it is very easy to put your finger on 

 them and kill them; if it is along toward the middle of a warm 

 day you cannot do it, for, when you put your finger where he is, he is 

 not there, and if you are not acquainted with his habits, you do not 

 know where he has gone. There is a kind of magic about it; but 

 if you have watched him before, when you put out your finger, you 

 will see him drop toward the ground; but just before reaching it 

 he frequently makes a rapid turn, and drops down one or two feet 

 from where he appeared to be falling; and, unless your eye has fol- 

 lowed him down in his course quite to the ground, you can scarcely 

 ever succeed in capturing or discovering him. The proper way is, 

 when you come upon him, to put your left hand under him first, 

 and then put your finger upon him. If he drops, you have got him 

 in your hand. If the female has succeeded in laying her eggs be- 

 fore you capture her, you will soon find the larvsc upon the leaves. 

 These should be killed with the thumb and finger." 



The larvae on reaching maturity descend to the ground, which 

 they enter, and form little cells of earth, where they remain about 

 three weeks, and then issue as beetles. These beetles are sup- 

 posed not to breed again the same season, but to live on the leaves 

 of the vine during the summer and fall, and then pass the winter in 

 a torpid state under the weeds, grass or other rubbish on the 

 ground, or under the bark of the posts used for trellises. It is 

 stated that the larvae may be killed while feeding on the leaves, by 

 sprinkling the vines with lime. 



The Radish Fly. 



Anthomyia radicum. — Harris. 



Early in the spring, soon after the first sown radishes have come 

 up, a small fly, resembling somewhat the common house fly, may be 

 seen flitting around the bed, often lighting on the ground near the 



