117 



divided into three sections, containing wheat, oats, and maize on the 

 cob, respectively, and I found them in each, but chiefly in the oat 

 and wheat cribs. There were no quiltings in the maize bin, which 

 probably allowed for the difference in numbers. I made thorough 

 search, but could not find any pupa cases ; and although the moths 

 were in all cases beautifully fresh, I was forced to conclude that they 

 had flown there, and hidden for shelter and safety in the daytime. 

 A few specimens came to light between 8.30 and 10 p.m., but I 

 never found them in the daytime about the house or stables or away 

 from the granary, although there were plenty of similar retreats for 

 them. It is curious that they should affect one building used for a 

 particular purpose, almost to the exclusion of the others near by. The 

 indications appeared to be strong that there was some connection 

 between the moth and the corn. 



With all my care I was not able to find any direct evidence ; but 

 in August of the same year, when the ears of unripe maize were 

 gathered for culinary purposes, I found that many of them contained 

 larvae about three parts grown, which one immediately recognised as 

 being on the same general lines as most of the AgroiidcE, and I 

 thought it highly probable that it was the earlier stage of my moth 

 from the granary. These larvfe would have been full-fed about the 

 middle or end of August, and as the corn crop (maize) is harvested 

 during the first week of September, or earlier, it is reasonable to 

 assume that some would be carried with the ears of corn to the 

 granary, where it would be stored until required for use. Unfortunately 

 I left the Indian Territory before this interesting point could be 

 cleared up ; and when I returned the next spring I was too late for 

 the species, again leaving before the Indian corn was in ear. 



The series of A. auxiliaris brought forward to-night was taken 

 from April 28th, 1893, until May 14th of the same year, one speci- 

 men being the least on a particular day, and twenty-one on two 

 occasions the largest number. In 1894 I saw a worn specimen at 

 St. Louis about the middle of April. The species seems to have a 

 great dislike for daylight, and as I lifted the sheltering rags they 

 often scuttled off, and dived into crevices whence I could not extract 

 them. 



The variation runs in two distinct parallel series, viz. a grey form 

 and a buff or stone coloured form. The individuals range from 

 bright, strongly-marked specimens to dull, almost unicolorous ex- 

 amples in both lines ; and then mottled forms, which have lost the 

 characteristic costal and dorsal bands of the majority, while the sub- 

 marginal, "though nowhere absent, is very much fainter. These 

 curious mottled varieties seem to obtain their peculiarity from the 

 appearance, or reappearance, of black costal dots and markings, 

 which are obscured in the strong specimens at the head of the first 

 two rows by the bright costal streak ; further down the series the other 

 bands are broken into as well, until the general appearance of the 

 insect is completely altered. A very important mark soon becomes 



