THE HESSIAN FLY. 263 



the traces of attack are reported as to be found from twenty-five 

 to thirty miles inland, but the injury slight, not more than one 

 straw in fifty being affected, and the grain of fair quality. It is 

 severe in some parts of Perthshire, and is found also in the 

 eastern counties adjacent. 



In East Lothian, Haddington, and Berwickshire attack is 

 only reported from a few places at present, and in Northumber- 

 land from one locality. 



Beginning again on the two sides of the Humber, the attack 

 widens much in area as it is traced south. It passes through 

 Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, touching an easterly part of 

 Northamptonshire, till it extends over the district commonly 

 known as the eastern counties, including besides great attack in 

 Hertfordshire, and some in Bedfordshire ; and it also occurs in 

 Kent. 



In the southerly or westerly parts of England it occurs at 

 Lymington and Petersfield in Hampshire, and to a considerable 

 extent near the College of Agriculture, Downton, near Salisbury ; 

 and I have one report of it from near Bridgwater, and it also 

 occurs at Goring Heath, Oxfordshire. 



The above localities are where I know of its presence from 

 specimens sent to myself, or, in a few cases, from information 

 given me by correspondents whom I know to be acquainted with 

 the appearance of the puparium, and the characteristics of the 

 attack. It very likely may occur elsewhere, but I am only just 

 giving a general sketch of extent of infested area from personal 

 knowledge. It strikes me as a very curious point that the attack 

 should so markedly cling to the sea-side, excepting in a few 

 isolated instances, or where the inland area is continuous with 

 the sea-side district. 



It is very satisfactory to observe that although the season 

 has been so altogether extraordinarily favourable to various kinds 

 of insects affecting corn-stems, yet that in very many instances 

 reported to me the injury caused to wheat by Hessian fly has 

 been slight. On this fact I venture to think we may ground a hope 

 that, either from the varieties of wheat which we use being kinds 

 suited to do what is called "resist" attack, or from circumstances 

 of our cultivation, we may find that our wheat at least does not 

 suffer as much as in some other countries ; and I venture to take 

 the opportunity of suggesting to your readers that I should feel 



