544 
annual report of new-york 
Every observing person is aware there are several kinds of 
these worms, differing from each other in the color of their heads, 
the stripes upon their bodies, and in their habits. But unfortu¬ 
nately we do not yet know which particular species of moth it 
is which either of the kinds of these worms produces. I have 
repeatedly endeavored to breed the moth from these worms, by 
placing them in cages into which I transplanted young corn, 
beans, &c., and'also by placing bell-glasses over corn hills where 
worms had buried themselves. But I have never been able to 
succeed. The worms on finding themselves imprisoned, refuse 
to eat, and hurriedly crawl around and around the inner side of 
their prison, night after night, until they literally travel them¬ 
selves to death. They are by no means such sluggish, stupid 
creatures as one would suppose from seeing them in the day 
time. By night they are as active as any other animal whose 
skin is stuffed and distended with food as theirs is. They are 
evidently able to crawl quite a distance in a single night. It is 
the common opinion that they are always bred in the ground near 
the spot where they do their mischief. But I suspect they are 
everywhere wandering about, nightly, in search of such tender, 
succulent plants as will furnish them a dainty repast, and that 
they thus in many instances enter our gardens and corn-fields 
from the surrounding enclosures. They certainly, if so inclined, 
could travel across the largest of our arable fields in a few hours. 
The following short descriptions of the different kinds of cut¬ 
worms which have fallen under my notice, and their habits, I 
extract from my manuscripts. All these worms, except the 
White one, are about an inch and a quarter in length when at 
rest, and an inch and a half when crawling. They all have four 
polished elevated dots upon each segment, on the back, and a 
few others which are less distinct, upon the sides, each dot bear¬ 
ing an exceedingly fine hair. 
The Red- headed cut-worm is of a dull pale brown color, with¬ 
out any stripes, and may be distinguished from all the other 
kinds by its head, which is of a tawny red color, instead of 
smoky yellowish as it is in each of the following, except the 
last one.- Common in corn-fields, cutting off' the plants slightly 
