HESSIAN PLY. 



21 



on the surface. Thus iu winter they may be killed (as above men- 

 tioned) in large numbers, or otherwise may be collected by children; 

 or they may be killed by turning on pigs. But various kinds of wild 

 birds are especially useful. Amongst these are rooks, the black-headed 

 gull, and the common gull, and these should in no case be interfered 

 with in their work. Of the " common gull " it is noted, in Yarrell's 

 ' Brit. Birds,' that "this bird frequently goes some miles inland to 

 follow a plough in search of insects and grubs." And of the black- 

 er brown-headed gulls it is noted, in a quotation by the same writer 

 relatively to their habits at their breeding-place at Scoulton Mere, in 

 Norfolk, that " they spread themselves over the neighbouring country 

 to the distance of several miles in search of food, following the plough 

 as regularly as rooks, and, from the great quantity of worms and grubs 

 which they devour, they render essential service to the farmer." 



Hessian Ply. Cecidomyia destructor, Say. 



EO 



1, Barley stem elbowed down by Hessian Fly attack ; 2, showing position of 

 " flax-seeds." Also " flax-seeds " or puparia, nat. size and magnified, showing the 

 early and smooth, and the later or striated, condition. 



During the past season very few observations were sent of presence 

 of Hessian Fly, and none of it doing serious damage ; and save to show 

 how little we are suffering, in our insular climate, from this attack, 

 which has the power of ranking amongst the worst Corn scourges in 



