290 Annual Report for 1887 of the OonsnUing Entomologtst. 
corn-fly to corn stems; the attacks of eel-worms to oats and 
clover ; and, likewise, there has been a very large amount of 
correspondence, and very satisfactory communication, regarding 
ox warble-fly, showing the great benefit arising from destruction 
of the maggots. 
Amongst the com attacks, that of the Hessian fly has been 
reported by the largest number of observers, although in the 
individual instances (as far as reports to myself show) it has 
not been as serious in its damages as the Chlorops twniopus, the 
ribbon-footed corn-fly, which has long been here. 
In my report on Hessian fly made to the Council in 
November, I mentioned that four kinds of tlie British parasites 
which I had forwarded to Moscow to the inspection of Dr. 
Lindeman had been found by him to be Russian species. I 
have since been in communication with Professor liiley, Ento- 
mologist to the Department of Agriculture of the United 
vStates, during his stay in England, and he still further confirms 
the fact of our British parasites being Russian forms. Professor 
Riley's opinion is of great value from his personal knowledge of 
the subject. After two days' investigation of specimens reared 
from British puparia, together with Russian specimens for- 
warded to him by Dr. Lindeman, he has placed in my hands a 
short account of the result of the examination, and I submit a 
list of the scientific names of these British j^arasites. 
They are as follows: — 1. riati/gastci' minutus ; 2. Semio- 
tellus nirjripes ; 3. Mupelmus Karschii ; 4. Merisus intermedins ; 
5. Tetrastichiis Rileiji ; 6. Eurj/scapns saltator, all species of 
Lindeman, and 7. Dacnum senilifi, Hald. 
This result of the investigations of Professors Lindeman and 
Riley puts an end up to the present date to any reason for sup- 
posing that the Hessian fly attack has been brought to us from 
America. The parasites above mentioned are excessively 
minute four-winged flies, which can only be certainly identified 
by comparison of specimens, as there are not full descriptions 
or figures attainable. Probably two, if not three, of the kinds 
will be found to be similar to (or to minutely resemble) British 
kinds pi-eviously known here; but this point will be further in- 
vestigated. 
Tlie examinations as to presence of flax-seeds in imported 
straw have still been continued at Hull by JMr. Edmund Riley, 
more especially with reference to the very large imports of eggs 
from Russia. As some of these come over in straw of rye, which 
is one of the corn crops liable to infestation, mischief might be 
feared, but 1 am informed by IMr. E. Riley, who is investigating 
on my bdialf (and is perfectly qualified for an examiner), that 
the straw is mostly cut above the second joint. I have myself 
