13 
ears, intently engaged in selecting the most suitable spot where to 
deposit their eggs. This being found, the insect alights, and stand- 
ing upon the outer glume or chaff of the kernel, curves its abdomen 
so as to bring the tip in contact at right angles with the surface of 
the glume. It now toils industriously to insinuate its ovipositor 
through the scale, which is not accomplished till after a considerable 
exertion. Sometimes even, the scale having probably acquired too 
much maturity and hardness to be pierced by the tiny stinger which 
the fly protrudes, it is foiled in its efforts, and, as if vexed at its ill 
success, spitefully jerks apart its wings and darts away. This oc- 
currence, however, is rare. And having penetrated with its ovipositor 
into contact with the germ of the future grain, through this tube 
one egg after another is passed in at short intervals until several are 
deposited. The usual number of eggs thus deposited, appeared to 
be from six to ten; and as thrice or four times as many larve can 
sometimes be met with ona single germ, it is probable that three 
or four insects sometimes successively puncture the same floret. 
‘Very frequently two, four or six flies may be seen at the same time 
on different florets of the same ear, depositing their eggs ; and Mr. 
Shirreff says, “‘ Upon one occasion I numbered thirty-five flies on a 
single ear, and, after carrying it a distance of a quarter of a mile, 
six of them still continued to deposit eggs.” This work being done, 
another laborious task for the tiny creature remains, that of with- 
drawing the ovipositor ; and to accomplish this, the energies of the 
insect are sometimes inadequate, and it remains, Prometheus-like, 
chained to an immovable mountain, until it expires. This curious 
fact, first observed by Mr. Kirby, I have seen fully verified, meet- 
ing in several instances with the dead insect still remaining thus 
suspended. 
Although the flowers of the wheat are the favorite resort of this 
insect for depositing its eggs, yet it is not limited solely to this 
plant. It is currently reported to have been occasionally met with in 
rye and oats in this country. Mr. Shirreff and Mr. Gorrie both found 
the wheat-worm in ears of the quack or couch grass (Triticum 
repens, Linn. ; Agropyrv.: repens, Pal. de Beauvois) ; and the latter 
gentleman hereupon rather naively remarks, “The fly has not known 
that modern botanists no longer ranged the couch grass among the 
wheat tribe ; but, like myself, it is most attached to the Linnean 
names and system.” Mr. Markwick also found the same worms in 
the wild bearded oats (Avena festuca, Linn.). 
