506 Queries and yhisiaers. 



a little from the root, then there is not much to fear, as they are more able 

 to recover from any injury they may z'eceivc from the bite." A little after, 

 " I do not believe they come much above ground in the night-time, as they 

 generally feed below the surface." As these statements do not exactly 

 agree, I may as well state my experience, leaving it to the observations of 

 others to determine which is right, or how far the difference of climate may 

 change the habits of the insect. T do believe that they feed above ground 

 at night; as some patches of oats, which I examined in 1831, appeared to 

 have the blade eaten down to the surface, but the root appeared not injured ; 

 and, the weather setting in dry and warm, these patches became as good a 

 crop as any in the field. A friend of mine kept some grubs among earth 

 in a tumbler, and fed them with grass strewed on the surface; which ap- 

 peared much nibbled in the morning, though he never found them on the 

 surface ; and those who have been so curious as to examine at night with 

 a candle say that the surface of the ground is then quite covered with 

 grubs. The insect is only an occasional visiter, and that only after wet 

 seasons, and on damp spongy soils ; and, as it is generally a wet cold 

 spring when the grubs are most complained of, the plant may perish then, 

 although it might not do so in more genial seasons ; and, in the latter case, 

 the grubs are possibly never thought of, or observed. In the year 1816, 

 1817, and 1818, they were numerous, and then never heard of till 1829, 

 1830, and 1831. Stickney observed that the principal part of the insects 

 seen on the wing are males ; and I found this correct to a surprising 

 degree : he also states that lime mixed with the soil did not destroy them ; 

 but I should recommend quicklime, or some other acrid manure, to be ap- 

 plied at night on the surface (this might be done from a cylinder of wire, 

 revolving like a roller), as likely to be beneficial, as it is said to be for 

 slugs, &c. — .7. C. Farmer. 



I know a little plot of ground, on the southern or upland edge of the fens 

 of Cambridgeshire (at Waterbeach it is), which, although surrounded by 

 inoistish pasture land, is broken up, and tilled as a garden. Out of, and 

 upon, the soil of this garden, in about April, the pupae of a species of gnat or 

 crane fly may be seen creeping and crawling. They have prickles on their 

 tail part, and one or two on the head part, and leave little furrows, or 

 tracks, as they drag themselves through and over the dust : they are about 

 three fourths of an inch long, and are of a dark colour, as is the soil. [Since 

 I wrote the above and following (not over grave) remarks, I have seen 

 fig. 395.^ in the Encijclopadia of Gardening, p. 428., which, without a doubt, 

 represents the pupa I have spoken of: it is, in the Enci/clojocedia, stated to be 

 the pupa of the J'lpula cornicina.] Their appearance on the surface at this 

 (April, or spring) season is to change into the winged state, and range the 

 air. In sunny days of spring, while working in this garden, I have seen in- 

 dividuals escape from the above-described pupas, and fly oiF; and the empty 

 pupa-cases are to be met with at almost every turn. The sunny exciting 

 days which promote the above-named transformations are, as every one 

 knows, frequently followed by cold, and even frosty, nights. In the morn- 

 ings following such nights, the new-born gnats may be seen half-dead, 

 resting here and there on the soil, or hanging on the leaves of some plant 

 near the earth's surface, looking cheerlessly and miserably. All this is 

 gossip, J. C. Farmer may think, and wide of his mark. Well, the only 

 lact that I can tell which bears on J. C. Farmer's views is, that this said 

 garden is cropless through the whole of the winter, save a few weeds, as 

 groundsel, grass, and shepherd's purse, which are not thought worth the 

 expense of removing, and which are deemed as some contribution towards 

 a spring coat of manure. Well, then, as I take it that the eggs from which 

 these said gnats are hatched are not deposited before the preceding autumn, 

 when several of the crops, potatoes, cabbages, celery, &c. &c., are being 



