CHINCH-BUG. 149 



pediency of gathering the stalks together and burning them, after the 

 corn has been harvested, with the view of destroying the bugs. It has 

 also been advised, in order to make the remedy more sure, to burn the 

 dead grass and other rubbish which accumulates around the borders of 

 fields and fences. My own observations have led me to the conclusion 

 that this remedy, also, in the way that it would be likely to be gener- 

 ally put in practice, can be of but little avail. Upon examining an in- 

 fested cornfield late in October, I found that the bugs had left the upper 

 part of the stalks and had collected about the one or two lowermost 

 joints, under the sheaths of which they were congregated. They had 

 gone thither, partly perhaps to avoid exposure to the cold winds ot ap- 

 proaching winter, but chiefly, no doubt, for the sake of the nutriment 

 which they could still extract from the lower joints of the stalks after 

 the upper ones had become dead and dry. Upon visiting the same 

 field a month later (Nov. 22d), after winter had virtually set in, the 

 mercury standing 15° above zero, and the ground whitened with snow, 

 after cattle had had the range of the field, very few bugs could be 

 found. A few were found in deep cracks in the stalks, and a few were 

 lying torpid upon the ground close to the roots of the corn. Upon 

 digging up a number of hills no bugs could be found beneath the surface. 

 Where the great majority of them had gone was not apparent. It is 

 known that some of these insects hibernate under boards and flat 

 stones, lying loosely upon the ground, and similar situations. Dr. 

 Shimer found many of them under the fallen leaves of apple trees, but 

 nearly half of these were dead. I have heard of their being seen fly- 

 ing in flocks, towards the woods, late in the fall. I cannot vouch for 

 the truth of this, but I found them, this fall, in small numbers, under 

 the loose bark of prostrate logs, in the edge of the woods, half a mile 

 from any tillage land. I also found them congregated on the under 

 side of some flat stones, lying upon stubble land. Within a few rods 

 from them was a ravine filled with long dead grass, but I could find no 

 bugs amongst the grass. It is proper to say, however, that this last was 

 not a badly infested locality. 



With the view of obtaining further observations upon this part of 

 the subject, still later in the season, and especially in the badly infested 

 district, I wrote to my friend Mr. Patten, whose assistance I have 

 above been happy to acknowledge, and requested him to examine 

 some of the cornfields in his vicinity. From Mr. Patten's reply, under 

 date of December 20, I extract the following valuable observations : 



" Since the receipt of your letter, I have at difierent times examined 



