190S] FROST — ATTELABUS EHOIS AND PARASITE 27 



Avork, and, not using the legs at all, relying upon the weight of the leaf- to bring it 

 down when sufficiently cut through. One female was timed Avhile cutting the mid- 

 vein; she completed the work in four minutes. 



As soon as the leaf falls into a pendent position, the weevil begins travelling over 

 the upper (in every case observed) surface, biting it at every step and at the same time 

 drawing it into a wrinkle by the two sharp spurs at the tarsal ends of the anterior 

 tibiae. The path over the leaf was in many cases parallel to the edge but became 

 very irregular after two or three rounds had been made. Leaves examined at this 

 stage show, on holding to the light, the course of the weevil by a series of small holes. 

 The time required by one female to finish the upper side was about fifteen minutes 

 of continuous work. 



In every case observed the mid-vein was the first point to be attacked on the 

 under side of the leaf; and the cross- veins showed by the brown spots plainly visible 

 on the more wilted leaves that the biting was done mostly on them. This may be on 

 account of the thick pubescence on the under side of the alder leaf l)eing shorter and 

 less troublesome on the veins. They may be bitten their whole length or only a short 

 way from the mid-vein. 



As soon as the under side is completed, which does not take as long as the upper 

 side, copulation often takes place, although cases were noticed when this occurred 

 while the preparation of the upper side of the leaf was in progress. Dr. Packard 

 states in the article previously referred to, "I once saw a female pick up a leaf with 

 her jaws, then stop, and run back to receive the embraces of the male, and then resume 

 her work. In another case I saw the sexes unite after a roll had been half made, so 

 that it is probable that union occiu-s several times at short intervals, as I have observed 

 to be the case with G. polygo7ii." When the male appears on the leaf he takes a 

 position on the petiole, or sometimes, as Dr. Packard mentions, on an adjoining one. 

 If alarmed, he sits nearly upright with the head and snout raised as if scenting an 

 enemy and remains motionless for a long time. The least jar of the bush, unless the 

 wind be blowing strongly, or a quick movement on the part of the observer, should 

 he be too near, will often cause the male to drop to the ground from this apprehensive 

 attitude. The female is not so easily disturbed and observations were frequently 

 made with a hand lens of about an inch focus without attracting her attention. A 

 slight jar would generally cause her to suspend operations fbr a moment or so, but 

 there would be very little fear exhibited. In one instance the male was observed to 

 run do\Aai the leaf, around the female, and back again as if inspecting her work; and 

 after she began to roll the leaf he became very excited and kept moving continually. 



After the biting is completed, the female, sitting upright, oviposits on the tip of 



