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these maggots feed; “but in some way they cause the non- 
development or abortion of the ovary, so that the grain never 
advances beyond the state in which it appears at the time the 
flower first expands.” The damage done to crops of wheat in 
some seasons by this insect is very great. In one instance 
recorded, the loss occasioned by its attacks in the late-sown 
wheats is supposed to have amounted to one-third of the crop. 
Some of the larvee, when about to pass into the pupa or chrysalis 
state, quit the ears and fall to the ground, where they probably 
remain buried till their final metamorphosis takes place. But 
the greater number of the larve attach themselves to a sound 
grain, or to the inside of one of the chaff-scales, a circumstance 
leading to the belief that ‘“‘ great multitudes of them might easily 
be destroyed by burning or scalding the chaff after the grain has 
been thrashed out.” And this is the recommendation of Professor 
Henslow—surely worth every farmer’s knowing and trying, as a 
means of lessening the evil, notwithstanding the summary way in 
which Mr. Stephens, at the conclusion of his letter to Mr. Davis, 
dismisses the “affair of the insects as clearly an ordinance of 
Nature not to be resisted.” 
Tumulus at Nempnett, now destroyed. By the Rev. Preb. SCARTH. 
(Read 13th May, 1873.) 
An account of this Tumulus is given in the Gen. Mag. for 1789. 
This was communicated by the Rev. Thos. Bere, Rector of 
Butcombe ; the length is given from N. to S. 150 feet, and from 
E. to W. 76 feet. It was known by the name of Fairy’s Toot. 
The Waywarden of the parish being in want of stones for the 
road began to cart it away, and this led to the discovery of 
the internal chambers. The construction appears to have re- 
sembled that at Wellow, but the central passage reached the 
entire length of the Tumulus, and had cells on each side. 
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