166 PEAS. 



caused by the various-coloured scales with which they are 

 thickly covered ; after a while these scales get more or less 

 rubbed off, and then the black skin of the wing-cases appears 

 in patches. Mr. Christy's observations referred to the 

 Spotted Pea Weevil, the Sitones cnnitus ; this differs from 

 the above in being rather smaller, and more of a grey or 

 rosy colour, with short hairs ; and in the wing cases, which 

 have short bristly hairs down the furrows, being spotted with 

 black. 



In this case Mr. Christy first observed the weevil-maggots 

 at the roots of Eed Clover, on the 23rd of March. The Clover 

 land infested was a field of 24 acres, 12 of which had been 

 in Wheat, and 12 in Barley in the previous year ; and it was 

 noticed that the maggots were much more plentiful on the 

 solid Wheat land than on the looser Barley land. Two, 

 three, or in some cases as many as five or six, maggots were 

 to be found under one plant. Some of them were to be found 

 at or near the tap-root of the Clover, and some at the 

 extremity of the smaller roots, which showed injury from 

 their gnawings. None of the grubs were found between the 

 rows of Clover. Like the larvaB of the S. Uncatiis above- 

 mentioned, they were about a quarter of an inch long, legless, 

 and much wrinkled, and of a whitish colour. The head was 

 ochrey and furnished with dark brown jaws. Some of the 

 specimens sent ceased feeding and formed hollow chambers in 

 the earth by the 8tli of May, and at the end of May and 

 beginning of June some were turned to chrysalids. By the 

 26th of June most of the maggots in the field at Boynton 

 Hall were reported to have (as far as was observable) changed 

 to chrysalis state, and the weevils, from the earliest formed 

 chrysalids, began to appear about the 20th of June. This 

 gives the early summer part of the history. Later on there 

 were, in the year observed, great numbers of weevils to be 

 seen. 



In the autumn Mr. Christy, continuing his observations, 

 noted on the 21st of October, " The roots of Clover have now 

 no larvfie near them. I have examined a great many. On 

 23rd of November, examination of a great number of Clover- 

 roots showed presence of Sitones maggots in all stages 

 of fp-owth, some evidently just hatched, others nearly or full- 

 grown ; and examination on the 28th of December and the 

 11th of January following showed maggots, sometimes full- 

 grown, but never in chrysalis condition." 



Thus we have the history, — the commencement of attack in 

 autumn, originated by the summer brood of beetles ; and 

 presence of maggots at the Clover-roots recorded at intervals 

 during the winter, until in spring they turn to chrysalids. 



