312 CUT WORMS DIFFERENT KINDS, 



Every observing person is aware there are several kinds of 

 these worms, differing from each other in the color of their heads, 

 the stripes upon their bodies, and in their habits. But unfortu- 

 nately we do not yet know which particular species of moth it 

 is which either of the kinds of these worms produces. I have 

 repeatedly endeavored to breed the moth from these worms, by 

 placing them in cages into which I transplanted young corn, 

 beans, &c, and also by placing bell-glasses over corn hills where 

 worms had buried themselves. But I have never been able to 

 succeed. The worms on finding themselves imprisoned, refuse 

 to eat, and hurriedly crawl around and around the inner side of 

 their prison, night after night, until they literally travel them- 

 selves to death. They are by no means such sluggish, stupid 

 creatures as one would suppose from seeing them in the day 

 time. By night they are as active as any other animal whose 

 skin is stuffed and distended with food as theirs is. They are 

 evidently able to crawl quite a distance in a single night. It is 

 the common opkiion that they are always bred in the ground near 

 the spot where they do their mischief. But I suspect they are 

 everywhere wandering about, nightly, in search of such tender., 

 succulent plants as will furnish them a dainty repast, and that 

 they thus in many instances enter our gardens and corn-fields 

 from the surrounding enclosures. ,They certainly, if so inclined, 

 could travel across the largest of our arable fields in a few hours. 



The following short descriptions of the different kinds of cut- 

 worms which have fallen under my notice, and their habits, I 

 extract from my manuscripts. All these worms, except the 

 White one, are about an inch and a quarter in length when at 

 rest, and an inch and a half when crawling. They all have four 

 polished elevated dots upon each segment, on the back, and a 

 few others which are less distinct, upon the sides, each dot bear- 

 ing an exceedingly fine hair. 



The Red-headed cut-worm is of a dull pale brown color, with- 

 out any stripes, and may be distinguished from all the other 

 kinds by its head, which is of a tawny red color, instead of 

 smoky yellowish as it is in each of the following, except the 

 last one. Common in corn-fields, cutting off the plants slightly 



