42 CORN AND GRASS. 



It is necessary to mention this to save confusion, as sometimes the 

 quantity of brown Aphides is so great, as to give the appearance (as 

 noted by one observer) of the ears having the "smut," but from the 

 mixture of colours, and other circumstances, there seems no reason to 

 doubt that these variously coloured Aphides are of one species, and 

 that the difierent names are to be accepted as synonyms, or at most as 

 indicating slight varieties. 



These brown or fawn tints, of course, are totally distinct from the 

 brown or black tints of the Aphides which have been destroyed by the 

 feeding within them of the maggots of the Ichneumon Fly, the 

 Aphidius aveim, figured in previous numbers of these Eeports. 



The Plant Lice may be found early in the summer on the leaves 

 and stems of the young Corn, and later on they attack the ears. They 

 are of the same shape throughout all their stages, from the time they 

 are hatched, or produced alive, up to maturity, excepting that (at 

 maturity) a portion are winged, and these in their immediately pre- 

 ceding state have wing-cases. But in the important point practically, 

 that they all live by suction throughout their whole life, and also have 

 power of walking (up to the date of also flying), they are alike in all 

 their stages. 



These Aphides infest Wheat, Oats, and Eye, and, to a lesser degree, 

 Barley, as well as many of our commonest Grasses. How far propa- 

 gation and feeding may take place in this country during winter under 

 ground near the food-plants, or above ground in their shelter, does not 

 appear to be at present known. 



As last year's attack was so prejudicial, it seems desirable to record 

 it, and to give a few notes received ; but except showing the great 

 prevalence at various localities, and likewise that the infestation was 

 noticeably in most instanc s of the brown-tinted Aphides, and also that 

 some of the notes confirm previous observations of the attack being 

 most severe to the late Wheats, little special information has been 

 contributed beyond what we previously possessed. 



On tlie 19th of July, Mr. Alfred Blomfield, writing from Orange 

 Hall, Gosfield, near Halstead, Essex, forwarded me some ears of 

 Wheat badly infested with Corn Aphides, in this instance mostly brown 

 in colour, with the following note showing the prevalence of attack in 

 that neighbourhood : — "I am sending you by same post two or three 

 ears of Wheat, and should be glad if you would let me know your 

 opinion of them. I find that most of the Wheats in this neighbourhood 

 are similarly affected." 



A little later on the following communication was forwarded to me 

 from Mr. E. J. Bishop, of Budnall Thame, by the Editor of the 

 ' Farmer and Stockbreeder ' (see No. for Aug. 1st, from which, by per- 

 mission, I reprint the inquiry, together with my reply). It will be 



