THE LESSER CLOVER-LEAF WEEVIL. 3 



specimens have since been identified as Phytonomus nigrirostris.) In 

 the same year (1884) Mr. W. H. Harrington stated that Phytonomus 

 nigrirostris occurred in considerable numbers in the vicinity of Ottawa, 

 but that he had not found any evidences of the destructive habits 

 described by Mr. Fletcher. He added, however, that it was known 

 to attack clover in Europe. 



In 1885 Dr. C. V. Riley stated that it had been observed by Dr. 

 James Fletcher to attack clover in Canada. In 1899 Doctor Fletcher 

 himself stated that in Canada it was a more general and destructive 

 pest to clover than its congener, P. punctatus. In another place 

 Doctor Fletcher stated that a considerable quantity of red and mam- 

 moth clover was injured about Ottawa by the insect just before the 

 blooming season in June. During the same year Dr. C. H. Fernald 

 stated that the smaller clover-leaf beetle, P. nigrirostris, was very 

 common on the Massachusetts Agricultural College farm at Amherst, 

 Mass., and quite destructive to the clover growing thereon. 



In 1890 Doctor Fletcher stated that he had frequently found the 

 larvae feeding on the heads of clover, and that he had observed the 

 insect in many parts of Canada. 



In 1895 Mr. W. H. Harrington reported it as more numerous than 

 any other of the 9 species of Curculionidse hibernating in moss about 

 the margins of swamps, November 17 to 23. Of the other 8 species 

 there were, all told, 10 individuals and 35 of P. nigrirostris. 



Mr. E. A. Schwarz (1908) states that P. nigrirostris is either a 

 circumpolar species Or else has been introduced into the Northern 

 States long ago; for, as far back as the records go, it has always been 

 quite common, ranging from New England westward to Michigan 

 and Minnesota. Some years ago it had been found by him at Fortress 

 Monroe, Va., and recently Messrs. I. J. Condit and J. H. Beattie, of 

 the Bureau of Entomology, had found it at Arundel, Md., while 

 others had found it near Washington, D. C, and on Plummers Island, 

 in the Potomac River above Washington. Insects introduced into the 

 Boreal Zone have not, in his opinion, the power of spreading south- 

 ward, as can be exemplified by a large number of species. In this 

 instance it seemed that there was another and distinct importation 

 at some harbor south of New York. 



Mr. C. O. Houghton (1908) gave the results obtained from a careful 

 rearing of the insect in confinement, as well as some additional data 

 relative to the time of appearance in spring. Although he labored 

 under the disadvantage of rearing the insect under artificial con- 

 ditions with clover leaves inclosed in vials and hence was unable to 

 secure exact field results, yet his was the first published study of the 

 development of the insect in this country. Further references to his 

 paper will be made in the proper places. 



Mr. R. L. Webster (1909) called attention to the seemingly mari- 

 time preferences of the beetle, noting its occurrence in New Bruns- 



