270 Notice of the Melolontha, or May-Bug. 
lower parts of their roots cut off. In our meadows, in such 
seasons, particularly on dry hillocks, the roots of the grass 
are so cut off that the withered grass may be raked off for 
rods. In such places J have collected from twenty to forty 
in the space of a square foot. 
These worms are the favourite food of the blackbird, 
which devours them in such numbers as to render it a ques- 
tion of policy whether this bird ought not to receive le- 
gislative protection, rather than be placed, by offering 
a bounty on his scalp, (as is the case in some States,) wnder 
the ban of the empire. I verily believe the damages he 
does bear uo proportion to the services he renders. 
How long they remain in the larva state is uncertain. 
The usual time of the first appearance of the bug is the lat- 
ter end of April, or early in May. Shortly before this time © 
it may be found immediately under stones, in meadow, or 
moist lands, occupying a cell or chamber, which it has 
formed in the earth previous to its intermediate or pupa 
state. It remains but a short time in this state, when it 
undergoes its final or perfect change. ‘They are then at 
first feeble, of a pale yellow brown colour, and it is some 
time before they take flight. During the twilight of a sum- 
mer evening they may be seen in great numbers on the 
wing, making a loud humming noise as they fly about. 
As the larve are found in great numbers, during the 
summer, doing most damage in the months of July and 
August, it is probable they are more than one year in that. 
state. 
There is a vulgar, but very prevailing opinion among 
farmers, that these grub-worms change to a briar! : 
In meadows where they are abundant, it is not unusual 
to find a number which have attached to them, vegetable 
sprouts, which are in some instances three inches in length. 
These ‘ sprouts” proceed generally from between the 
head and the under part of the thorax, and in a few instan- 
ces from the mouth. These appear to be a species of Fun- 
ei. There is generally but one to each grub, though in 
several instances I have met with two. In every instance, 
however, the grub is not only dead, but in a state of decay, 
and the sprout rising about the ground, indicates where they 
may be found. 
