1917.] 179 



undigested larval skins of G. graminis in each stomach. A little 

 further on in the same article he refers to lai-vae having " just emerged 

 from the hihernating stage." 



On the other hand, Barrett ( ' Lepidoptera of the British Islands,' 

 vol. IV, 1897, p. 130) definitely says that the winter is passed in the egg- 

 stage, and Meyrick ('Handbook of British Lepidoptera,' 1895, p. 75) 

 gives April to June as the months when the larvae occur. Buckler 

 ('Larvae of British Butterflies and Moths,' vol. iv, p. 69) states that 

 the eggs hatch some time in spring, the exact date depending upon the 

 character of the season. It is clear, however, that Buckler had the eggs 

 under observation in captivity, and had not searched for larvae in the field. 



The above directly opposed series of statements render it evident 

 that further enquiry is needed to definitely settle this point. 



(3) Larval Hahits. — During the present infestation I have seen 

 many thousands of larvae actively moving about, apparently seeking fresh 

 food, and onl}^ on very few occasions were any of them noticed actually 

 feeding. According to Barrett {loc. cif. p. 130), they "feed at night on the 

 grass leaves, hiding away among the roots by day." Again, this appears 

 to be at variance with my own observations, as very few larvae were met 

 with among the grass roots in comparison with the number crawling 

 about in the broad daylight. Furthermore, most of those which were 

 among the roots and turf had gone there for purposes of pupation. 



(4) Bo tlie Larvae attack Corn? — This point is of economic 

 importance, more especially so in the light of the stateinents of Keuter 

 in Finland, and Kaltenbach in Germany, to the effect that wheat, rye, 

 oats, and barley may be attacked. In the present outbreak I personally 

 investigated cases of reported •injury to grain crops, but found all were 

 mifounded. In two instances oat-fields were only separated by a few 

 yards from unreclaimed moorland, where the larvae were abounding, but 

 no damage to the oat crop had taken place ! 



These few notes are written with the object of calling attention to 

 certain featvires in the biology of one of our common insects which 

 require further enquiry. Possibly other entomologists who may read 

 this article may be in a position to enlighten us by recording their own 

 observations. 



July V2fh, 1917. 



[Some pupae of C. graminis were found by myself in moss on the 

 Dartmoor Tors above Bridestowe at the end of July last. These produced 

 moths, cJ $ , about the middle of August. — G. C. C] 



