CUT WORMS — DIFFERENT KINDS. 313 



below the surface of the ground, and thus always destroying 

 them. On Staten and Long Islands, I am told, this species is 

 popularly named the "Tiger worm," from its destructive habits, 

 and that the name cut- worm is there applied only to the next 

 species. 



The Striped cut-worm is dirty whitish or pale smoky, with 

 darker brown stripes, of which there are two along the back and 

 three broader ones along each side; dots black, as they are in the 

 preceding species, but not so minute. This is the most common 

 kind in corn-fields, cutting off the plants half an inch above the 

 ground; hence the stalk frequently shoots up again, from the 

 middle of the stump. This occasionally occurs among beans 

 also. It buries itself but slightly, and may sometimes be found 

 with half its back exposed, even though the sun be shining clear 

 and hot. 



The Faintly-lined cut- worm is dull brown, with very faint 

 I ale longitudinal lines, and the polished dots but little darker 

 than the general color. Found in cornfields, but more commonly 

 in gardens among cabbages and sometimes among onions. Buries 

 itself but slightly. 



The White cut-worm is smaller, being scarcely an inch long 

 when at rest. It is dull white, with black dots and no stripes or 

 lines except a row of very faint brownish touches along the upper 

 part of each side. It is rare, a single individual being occasion- 

 ally found among corn and beans. 



The Black-headed cut-worm is dull dark brown, with faint 

 traces of pale lines, and its head deep black. This is probably 

 what is named the "Black worm" in some neighborhoods. It 

 is the most common kind among beans, cutting them off slightly 

 below the surface, and drawing the severed stem into the hole 

 where it buries itself, and there feeding upon it during the day, 

 till the whole is devoured, or only pieces of the wilted leaves 

 remain, plugging up the entrance of the hole. Either the Striped 

 or the Lined cut-worm frequently treats corn in this same way. 

 Hence the stump may often be found without any wilted leaves 

 lying near it. 



There are doubtless other species of cut-worms which have 

 not yet presented themselves to my notice, my investigations of 



