84 CORN AND GRASS. 
tubercles below; and John Curtis notes, in the case of the Spotted 
Crane Fly, that there are two fleshy protuberances, which can be 
dilated or contracted at pleasure, and help the maggots in locomotion. 
The grubs, like those of the common Daddy Longlegs, are cylindrical 
and footless; their small brown heads are retractile into the fleshy body, 
and furnished with a pair of minute black jaws. 
In spring they change to the pupal state, in which, like the 
common Crane Fly (the Tipula oleracea, of which figures have been 
frequently given in these Reports), they stand upright in the ground, 
with about half of the body exposed, showing the cases above the 
folded-down wings, and also above the legs, lying centrally between 
them. 
The flies are about half an inch long, with an expanse of wing of 
about one inch. The colour a very pretty yellow, much spotted with 
black. The male has eight black spots along the top ef the abdomen, 
the female six, with (in each case) other black spots or dots below. 
‘«The wings are smoky yellow and iridescent, with brown nervures, a 
yellow pinion edge, and stigma; the poisers ochreous, and the legs 
mostly ochreous, with black feet.’’ * 
These yellow black-spotted Crane Flies may be found in May, June, 
and July, but whether the successive appearances are from successive 
broods, or difference in date of laying, appears uncertain. 
For the most part the reports sent in as to Tipula maggot ravage 
make no distinction between the kinds of grubs that may be present, 
but now and then a trustworthy observation shows the great damage 
caused by this special kind, as in 1879, when Mr. EH. A. Fitch, F.E.S., 
reported them to me as being very injurious in a nine-acre field of his 
at Maldon, Hssex,—to Wheat after Red Clover. In April he had the 
Charlock (Sinapis arvensis) pulled, and the soil, being wet and tenacious, 
adhered to the fibrous roots, ‘‘ and the quantities of small Tipule larve 
exposed were enormous.” 
John Curtis mentions that from the immense swarms of the gnats 
of this species on lighter arable land he inclined to think that the 
corn-crops suffered more in such situations from this than from the 
common larger kind. Also it is to be found on damp or marshy grass- 
land. Dr. Ritzema Bos (see Joc. cit.) notes having himself observed it 
in enormously large amount on the Nordpolder, in the province of 
* Detailed description of this species of Tipula in its different stages, with 
figures accompanying, will be found in the volume of the ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle’ 
for 1846, p. 317; and descriptions, with much useful information regarding them, in 
‘Farm Insects,’ pp. 449-451; in both cases by John Curtis. The most recent 
account I am acquainted with is an excellent one given by Dr. J. Ritzema Bos 
(from his personal observations) in his ‘ Tierische Schadlinge und Niitzlinge,’ pp. 595, 
596. Berlin, 1891, é 
