82 



CORN AND GRASS. 



to the root ; or it may occur kigher up above the third or 

 fourth knot. 



Attacked Barley-stem: 1, bent down; 2, showing "flax-seeds." 



The mark of attack being present is the stem elbowing 

 sharply down just above where the maggot lies. It does not 

 commonly break, but, unless the straw is very firm, it bends 

 at the infested spot, and thus damage is caused to the fallen 

 head, besides difficulty in reaping from the confused state of 

 the straw. The injury is caused by the fly-maggots lying at 

 the same spot sucking the juices from the stem, which is thus 

 weakened, and presently, although both the stem and the ear 

 above are (in any important amount of attack) more or less 

 stunted, yet the weakened piece of stem cannot bear their 

 weight, and it bends sharply down at the injured part. 

 Sometimes a gall or swelling of the stem occurs just above 

 where the maggot fed, but in the specimens I examined this 

 was rarely noticeable. 



The whitish maggots will often be found to have a green 

 tinge running along them, — this is caused by the green plant- 

 juices showing through the transparent skin. Beneath the 

 maggot at the head-end is a horny or chitinous appendage 

 (see figure) which is found on cecidomyideous larva3 and is 

 known in America as the " breast-bone, with us as the 

 " anchor-process." The presence of this peculiar appendage 



