Insects. 5145 



found that the wood, which was partially decayed, was tunnelled out in every direction 

 by similar larvae, and even in some places the sound parts of the beams pierced like 

 wood affected with the dry rot : the particles cut out during the process of boring were 

 conveyed to the end of the tunnel, and, being held together by a web-like substance, 

 projected in patches of from one-half to three-quarters of an inch in depth from the 

 beams, and formed the excrescence which at first caught my attention. Some time 

 previous to this, the warehouseman called me to look at a large quantity of (as 

 he thought) sea-sand, which remained after the removal of a quantity of wheat, and 

 which he imagined must have been mixed for the purpose of adulteration. On a 

 superficial examination the resemblance was very striking, but on lifting it in the hand 

 its lightness at once told that it was very different: on close examination, I found it 

 was entirely composed of the rejectamenta of the larvae alluded to : the quantity on the 

 loft was very considerable, which shows how destructive the moths are. The wheat is 

 eaten in a peculiar manner: in every instance, as before-mentioned, the germinating 

 end is destroyed, and the exterior coat of the grain consumed in preference to the inte- 

 rior. In this they differ from the weevils, which hollow out the interior of the grain, 

 leaving the exterior almost untouched. I do not mean to say that the larvae refrain 

 from touching any portion but the outside of the wheat, but that they appear to prefer 

 it to the interior. It may be worth mentioning, that in most cases, where the cocoons 

 were fastened to the walls, a number of these gnawed grains were attached to the 

 webs ; but this may, I think, be perhaps attributed to the wheat becoming entangled 

 during the turning or shifting in the loft. In the beginning of April of the present 

 year I placed a quantity of the wood cut from the beams, and well filled with 

 larvae and cocoons, in a box, and about the end of the month, on opening it, I found 

 that a few moths had come out, apparently identical with those before noticed. Some 

 of these proved to be the Tinea cloacella (Haw.), which is very commonly in this coun- 

 try called the clothes-moth ; the others, being a good deal rubbed, could not be iden- 

 tified with certainty, but I think they were all alike. A peculiarity in their habits 

 deserves to be noticed, namely, on opening the box in which they were they did 

 not at first attempt to fly, but ran quickly about, hiding wherever they could amongst 

 the contents, and, if well-concealed, would not stir unless again disturbed. I cannot 

 speak with certainty as to the names of the moths which I obtained last year, as the 

 box in which they were was unfortunately mislaid : but that several species of Tinea 

 infest the warehouse alluded to I have little doubt. The occurrence of Tinea cloacella 

 amongst them is, I think, of considerable interest, as I am not aware that any previous 

 mention has been made of its destructive habits with reference to corn. — James 

 Haughton, Jun. 



[I have received from a correspondent a beautiful example of silk felt spun by the 

 larva of the above-mentioned on some cognate species, and described to me as 

 covering the rafters and under surface of the floor in a granary at Waterford. The 

 object of the little creatures in this apparent waste of silk is not very obvious, 

 but the fabric, so to call it, has long since been known to corn-chandlers, and has 

 received the name of tela-del-maiz . — Edward Newman]. 



Food-plant of Anthocharis Cardamines. — As soon as I saw Cardaraine impatiens 

 again set down as the food-plant of Anthocharis Cardamines by Mr. Stainton, in his 

 * Manual,' I mentioned to that gentleman my conviction that this was an error: he 

 has not, however, altered the statement in the reprint of No. 1, so that he appears still 

 to entertain what I consider a very erroneous opinion : this is oniy material inasmuch 

 XIV. 2 F 



