STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
821 
MIDGE. OTHER DBSTROTERS. THE YELLOW*BIRD. 
ties the question -which is now before us. It is the egg parasite 
of that bug. The parasite punctures and inserts an egg in each 
egg of tho bug it can find. Its egg hatching, the minute larva 
therefrom feeds on the contents of the bug’s egg till it gets its 
growth ; it then changes to a pupa and finally to a perfect insect, 
when it gnaws an opening through the egg shell and makes its 
escape therefrom. Portions of one of these insects which had 
died before it made its way out of the shell, were found by Mr. 
Klippart. My acknowledgments are due him for enabling me to 
show so conclusive^ that this insect, which he is “ certain” is 
the Platygaster (Inostemma) punctiger, has no connection whatever 
with the wheat midge.] 
Several other parasitic insects may be met with upon the 
wheat. Some of these we know prey upon the aphis. These 
will be described in connection with that insect in a subsequent 
part of this report. The others occur in such very limited num¬ 
bers that it is evident they pertain to species which are much 
less abundant in this grain than the midge is. For several years 
I have been searching to ascertain if we had any parasitic des¬ 
troyers of the midge. The present year I have looked with par¬ 
ticular care ; and I now am more confident than I have ever 
before been that we have no insects, of this kind in our 
country. 
A few spiders and other predaceous insects may be noticed on 
the wheat, capturing and devouring all flies and other insects 
which they are able to master. But the onty natural destroyer 
of the midge known to us here in America, which is worthy to 
be mentioned, is our common yellow-bird, the Carduelis Ameri¬ 
cana, as it was first named by Catesby (Nat. Hist, of Carolina, 
vol. i, p. 43.) Linnaeus subsequently changed its specific name 
to tristis, the black portions of its plumage probably suggesting 
to him the idea of mourning weeds ; but a more unfortunate name 
could scarcely be imposed upon this lovely bird, its bright col¬ 
ors, its sprightly motions and the lively song it sings rendering 
it impossible to associate with it any thoughts of sadness and 
melancholy. 
1 his bird causes that rough and ragged appearance of the 
wheat heads which is the most conspicuous indication we have 
that the grain is infested by this insect. The bird alighting 
grasps tho wheat stalk just below the ear, clinging fearlessly to 
