786 
ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW YORK 
MIDGE. M.T. ITS EGOS DESCRIBED. 
the first joint remaining outside. The bearded surface of this 
last joint being thus in contact with the rough surface of the 
chaffs, no doubt fixes it securely in one position whilst the eggs 
are passing through it; whilst the much smaller size of the 
finger-like processes at its end allows them sulficient motion to 
guide each succeeding egg slightly aside from its predecessor, 
whereby a number of eggs can be placed without blocking up 
the point of their exit. Sometimes a single egg is found, but 
they are usually in small clusters of from two to ten, this being 
the number which the fly has in readiness to deposit at one time, 
and which it extrudes with one introduction of its ovipositor. 
In damp cloudy weather, when it can remain at this work all 
day, it is more slow and leisurely in its motions. But in dry 
sunshiny weather, when it is obliged to leave the wheat heads 
and rest during the day, it becomes overburthoned with its eggs 
and is then very active and busy in disposing of them when the 
humid air of evening arrives, enabling it to return to its work. 
Thus it continues industriously at this employment day after 
day; this disposing of its eggs being the main business of its 
life. 
When it has for the time exhausted its supply of eggs, it is a 
laborious operation for the fly to disengage and withdraw its 
roughly bearded ovipositor from the crevice in which it is inserted, 
and Mr. Kirby observes, she is sometimes unable to accomplish 
this, and is held a prisoner till she dies or till some enemy de¬ 
vours her. It is common to meet with the midge, dead and sus¬ 
pended in this manner by its ovipositor. But it is only when 
the fly has completed its operations and is feeble with age and 
ready to perish, that it becomes thus fastened. 1 have particu¬ 
larly observed the fact, that we never see any flies thus suspended 
in the month of June ; it is not till into July when their labors 
are drawing to a close that this phenomenon occurs and then 
becomes common. 
The eggs, (Plate ii, fig. 8) scarcely exceed the hundredth part 
of an inch in length. They are about six times as long as thick, 
and are of a long oval form, very near cylindrical with rounded 
ends. Their surface is smooth and shining, and they are almost 
colorless-watery with a faint tingo of pale red. When several 
are together in a mass they appear of a deeper reddish yellow 
color. On being highly magnified they have the appearance 
