G. H. FuKD 99 



Manchester, while a fair number of specimens were taken in various 

 districts of Mid-Lancashire and North Staffordshire. Wireworms 

 were taken in soils growing a variety of crops, but the most abundant 

 and sure source of specimens was found to be the potato crop ; a visit 

 to a potato field rarely proving a disappointment. Pastures, especially 

 those that had been down for a long period, proved a good source for 

 material. They were, however, only utilised until sufficient observa- 

 tions had been made, owing to the lengthy examination required and 

 the uncertainty of results. The material when collected was put into 

 fairly deep tin boxes, loosely packed with damp soil. The larvae were 

 examined individually under a binocular microscope in the laboratory, 

 being measured and roughly classified into sizes. They were placed, 

 after examination, in plant pots previously prepared. As this type 

 of breeding cage proved to be useful, no trouble from disease having 

 been experienced, some further details may be of interest. The drain- 

 age hole of the plant pot was covered with a circular piece of fine wire 

 gauze strengthened by having a strip of zinc soldered round the edge. 

 The gauze was roughly two-thirds the width of the pot ; so, no matter 

 how it slipped, the gauze would still cover the drainage aperture and 

 prevent the escape of any larvae. The top of the flower pot was covered 

 over by a perforated zinc plate, having a flange of about an inch in 

 depth. The flange and the weight of the zinc were sufficient to keep 

 the pot covered securely, even in the most boisterous weather. The 

 vessel was filled first with small pieces of broken pots, and then with 

 earth in the usual manner ; a potato was placed about half way down 

 in the soil to provide food for the larvae. The pots were buried out 

 of doors in the ground, up to the level of the soil inside the pot. The 

 larvae lived quite healthily in these pots, and no sign of disease was 

 ever observed. For experiments requiring a greater depth of soil, 

 two ordinary three-foot drainpipes were used ; the narrow end being 

 capped with cement, which was sloped inside to a central aperture 

 covered by wire gauze imbedded in the cement. These drainpipes 

 were very useful, but were too weighty to handle easily. They were 

 handicapped by being buried in stiff clay soil, which prevented good 

 drainage and rendered the drainpipes liable to become waterlogged. 

 Buried in soil of a more open texture and better drainage capacity, 

 they would be quite free from any disadvantage, save that of weight. 



Throughout this work, the endeavour was to keep all the conditions 

 as closely approximating to nature as possible. 



