29 



cube, was received by me on the 2nd of June, and spread out in a glass-covered case. 

 On the following morning a male and female were found in the box. Additional 

 examples were disclosed from the earth — about twenty-five in all — from that time to 

 the 27th of June, since when none have been obtamed. They had undoubtedly com- 

 menced to emerge during the month of May. 



Marked features of the species, which will serve in its recognition, are the genitalia 

 of the male, which are quite broad, projected on a pedicel, and arranged in an extended 

 pair of chispiug organs; and the long jointed ovipositor of the female, of about twice 

 the length of the abdomen. 



The antennas of the Cecidomyise afford perhaps the best features for determination 

 of species. The following description of the antennae of the male of C. leguminicola 

 was drawn from fresh specimens just after death: 



Number of joints seventeen in all — the basal one coloured and short, the next one 

 black, short and naked, followed by fifteen verticillate ones. Joints on penduncles as 

 long as the joints, subcylindrical with rounded ends, about one-half longer than broad, 

 rather thickly verticillate ; the longest hairs nearly three times as long as the joints, 

 and projected at nearly right angles to them ; the shorter hairs about equal in length 

 to the joints, some of which curve upward and have their tips nearly in the plane of 

 the succeeding joint; joints regularly and gradually diminishing in size to the terminal 

 one, which is about but one-half the size of the penultimate one, and of an ovate form. 



The wings are clothed with numerous short, curved, blackish hairs, which give 

 them a dusky appearance ; ciliaj paler, long. The abdomen is fuscous, marked on each 

 segment dorsally with black hairs forming a segment of a circle having the curve in 

 front. The thorax is black above, clothed with rather long hairs. 



The insect is in all probability quite generally distributed throughout the State of 

 New York, and will be lound in adjoining States. On the 1st of July, examples of the 

 larvae were obtained from clover heads gathered by me on Mount Equinox, Vermont, at 

 an elevation of 2,500 feet above tide. Oa July 5th, although a late period for the larvae, 

 mature specimens were taken from clover growing within the city of Albany, from the 

 sidewalk of Western Avenue. The only example of the fly which has up to the present, 

 so far as my knowledge extends, been taken at large, was cajstured on the Hudson 

 Eiver, in the vicinity of Castieton, on the 16th of the present month (July), by Mr. 

 Dempster A. Lansiugh, of Albany. The keen eye that could detect so minute au 

 object on the crowded deck of an excursion boat, deserves to be trained for use in 

 entomological science. 



From information kindly communicated to me by Prof. Wm. H. Brewer, of Yale 

 College, New Haven, Conn., it is very probable that the existence of this clover pest 

 was known at least thirty years ago. He writes as follows : 



" My father, Henry Brewer, of Enfield Center, Tompkins Co., N. Y., was an 

 enthusiastic growar of clover and clover-seed as far back as I can remember. Many 

 years ago — how long, I cannot definitely say, but certainly before 18i8, it was known 

 to us that an insect attacked the clover, which hatched out a fly. Our belief then was 

 that the larva existed ivithin the seed. Oa two occasions I hatched out the flies and sent 

 them by mail to Albany, to the Entomologist there — once before 18 i8, and once later, 

 somewhere between 1851 and 1855. The fly was very small and very slender, but 

 having been found so many years ago, that is all the recjlleclion I have of it. The 

 clover heads were not affected externally by its ]n-esence." 



There cannot be much doubt but that tlie above insect is identical with the little 

 midge which has so recently commanded our attention, as the residt of its mulfcip'ication, 

 or, as is more probable, from a period of its unusual abundance. Acceptmg their 

 identity, it is quite interesting that the first notice of tiie species, so far as known, comes 

 from a county which is believed to be suffering more from its depredations, at the pre- 

 sent time I ban any other portion of the State. 



Prom the July number of the American Agriculturist, I learn, for the first time, that 

 Prof. Edey has been engaged in investigations on this interesting insect. Tae article is 

 drawn from a conversation with Prof. E., and in part from a communication by him a 

 short time ago to the N. Y. Tribune. It contains a notice of the depredations, trans- 



