166 OSCIISIS VASTATOR. 



birth to larvse destructive to the several 

 kinds of corn, when they appear in any consi- 

 derable quantity. These flies have their ich- 

 neumons for checking their increase, in the 

 same way as the midge described in a previous 

 chapter. They do not, however, belong pecu- 

 liarly to the wheat, and are therefore not legi- 

 timate subjects for this work, beyond a pass- 

 ing notice of their existence. Amongst the 

 British flies, the one called oscinis vastator is 

 much to be dreaded. Two broods of maggots 

 are yearly ushered into life from its eggss, 

 Those bom in the summer are located be^ 

 tween the sheath and stem, above the soil ; 

 those that are hatched in the autumn are close 

 to, and perhaps below, the surface. These flies 

 and their preventives are described in the pa- 

 pers before mentioned, which have been pub- 

 lished by the Agricultural Society. One of 

 the most remarkable flies which infest wheat 

 and other grain, appears to be the cejphus pyg- 

 mcmsy or com saw-fly. For a knowledge of 

 the singular habits of this creature we are en- 

 tirely indebted to Mr. Curtis. No farmer had 

 previously discovered it, as far as is known ; 

 no Englishman of science had previously de- 

 scribed its operations and habits. It is, 



