324 Report of the Honorary Consulting Entomologist for 1884. 
Fig. 
^.—-Anchor Processes, 
much magnified. 
Eed Maggots. 
1, From Wheat ; a, 3, Foxtail Grass. 
as the anchor process 
this caterpillar is liable to spread as quickly and be as severe 
as that from caterpillar of turnip-saw-fly or " niggers." 
With regard to the nature of the small maggots infesting 
the seed of meadow foxtail-grass (Alopecwus pratensis) which 
was left for further investigation in 
February, I am able now to report 
that these are of three kinds of 
" red maggot " or midge-grubs. 
One kind is indistinguishable from 
the common red maggot of the 
wheat-midge, the Cecidomyia tritici, 
and the others differ in one case in 
the forked ends of a small process 
below the head, sometimes known 
being bluntly pointed, whereas in the 
wheat-midge maggot it is lunate, and in the other this process 
is absent. 
The small yellow two-winged midges that were captured were 
almost, but not quite precisely, like the wheat-midge ; and on 
submitting them to Mr. R. H. Meade, he informs me that they 
may possibly be a smaller variety of the wheat-midge, but more 
probably be an undescribed species ; it is necessary to have 
males as well as females for certain identification. 
Practically considered, however, we find three kinds of 
maggots, one corresponding so exactly in appearance with the 
common red maggot, and all so similar to this in their habits 
(as far as reported), that the attack appears to lie under the 
same means of prevention as those already known to be ser- 
viceable against this crop pest. 
The attack, as noted, is usually much more severe on the home- 
grown than on imported seed, and I consider that this Alopecurus 
pratensis, or meadow foxtail-grass, if grown in large quantities, 
would be very likely to infest neighbouring wheat with its 
varieties of " red maggot." 
A little communication has been sent in regarding the water- 
snail, LirnncBus truncatulus, the host of the liver-fluke in its tran- 
sition stage ; and it is to be regretted this subject is not more 
followed up, as the amount of presence of these snails is often 
enormously increased by a neglected condition of cattle ponds, 
cisterns, and ditches, which is highly favourable to their increase, 
and undesirable in every point of view. 
The most important communications, however, of the past 
season have been on the subjects of hop aphis and of ox 
warble-fly. 
Regarding hop aphis, it has been shown by observations for- 
warded (with specimens accompanying) from the latter part of 
