ma 
325 
do so. Since that time, however, we have found that the same differ- 
ence was fully illustrated as early as 1820,* and though the figures were 
possibly less artistic than our own, they conveyed the idea equally as 
well. Three years later, in the same publication, Mr. Thomas Beesley, 
of Cape May, wrote, advising those who wished to find the fly in 
fall wheat to “‘look for the spears that are darkest and stand most 
upright.”+ And, as if this were not enough to punish us for our rash 
aspirations, we find that in 1840 “J. G.,” a correspondent of the Farm- 
ers’ Cabinet, place of residence not stated, reports that he had (Octo- 
ber 23) just finished plowing up a field of wheat which “ was the best 
field to appearance in the neighborhood,” but not one plant or shoot 
could the owner find in the whole field “ but what had from two to a 
dozen, or more, nits or eggs at the root.”t Thiscommunication appeared 
to ““‘move” another correspondent of the same publication, who signs 
himself “ Thirty years a farmer, Delaware County,” no State given, but 
whose ‘‘thees” betoken a Quaker, states that he also finds one of his 
fields, until lately ‘‘ growing handsomely,” now dying, “a mass of cor- 
ruption, and a greater portion rotted off at the ground.” § 
‘In the Third Reportof the U. 8. Entomological Commission (p. 210), 
considerable space is given to the development of this msect during 
the summer months. It does not seem, however, that Michigan flies, 
as there cited, differ materially from those of other localities, nor had — 
they improved much upon the habits of their ancient brethren, for, in 
1820, Mr. James Worth observed the adult April 19; eggs, April 24; 
pupe, May 15; adults early in June, and on the 12th of same month all 
Stages were observed. Adults were noticed from the 15th of the follow- 
ing August until October, and again November 25, and he reared them 
indoors December 25 and February 20. In summing up the matter he 
says: “It may then be said that during the past year (1820) there have 
been three complete broods and partially a fourth.” || 
The Stalk-borer, Gortyna nitela, seems to have formed a taste for 
wheat at an early day, although little is said of the habits of the larvee 
prior to 1840. Dr. Harris found a larva in potato stalks in 1848, which 
seems to have prompted his description.{ Mr. Thomas Beesley, of 
Cape May, as early as 1823, mentions a worm which ate into the straw 
about the second or third joint,** while Mr. Jabez Jenkins, of West 
Whiteland, Chester County (Pa.?), stated in 1840 that a new enemy of 
wheat had made its appearance in his and an adjoining county, the 
same being “a worm about three-quarters of an inch long, of a brown 
* American Farmer, Vol. U1, p. 174, 1820. 
t Loe. cit., Vol. v, p. 165, 1823. 
{ Farmers’ Cabinet, Vol. v, p. 138, 1840. 
§ Loc. cit., p. 172. 
|| American Farmer, Vol. III, p. 188, also loc. cit., p. 213. 
{| Entomological Correspondence, p. 315. 
** American Farmer, Vol. v, p. 165, 1823. 
