51 
by the mere loss of sap, since the later growth of the corn, and 
especially that of the ear, must be dependent, in some measure, 
on these last-formed roots. 
The negro hug associated with the chinch hug. —The negro bug 
(Thyreocoris ( Corimelcena ) pulicarius), extremely common in 
fields of wheat and grass with the chinch bug, is frequently held re¬ 
sponsible by farmers for a part of the damage done to their crops, 
while by others it is looked upon as an enemy of the chinch bug. 
Careful observation at Ashley, June 14 to 16, where these bugs 
were extraordinarily numerous, failed to show them in any way 
injurious. They were seen only on weeds in the wheat fields and 
beside the road—usually the Spanish needle (Bidens) and plantain 
[Plantago lanceolata\ and occasionally the common rag weed 
[Ambrosia). June 27, at Tonti, they were about half as numerous 
[in all stages except the very young) in our experimental plots of 
wheat as the chinch bugs themselves. 
At Flora, in one meadow visited, heavily damaged by the chinch 
Dug, the negro bugs were also excessively numerous, especially in 
;he richer and more luxuriant parts of it. Hundreds might be 
3een on the ground at once by parting the grass and weeds. The 
dmothy was not injured by them, but a common smart weed 
Polygonum persicarium ) seemed especially to attract them. Con- 
in ed with this plant at the office, they were seen to feed upon it 
'reely, piercing with their beaks both‘stems and leaves. Shut up 
or several days without plant food, but with chinch bugs, they 
)aid no attention to the latter, but would walk across them with- 
>ut noticing their presence. 
Chinch hugs breeding in oats. —Besides the instances already 
eported, the following may be noted, as occurring in a region 
vhere wheat, though scarce, was raised to some extent, and was 
lot by any means wholly destroyed. On the farm of Mr. Alex¬ 
ander McMurray, near Tonti, in Marion county, I found June 27, 
.888, chinch bugs of all ages below the adult generally dis- 
ributed through oats a quarter of a mile from wheat—the grain 
eddening and falling in patches, here and there, as a result of 
his attack. They were nearly limited to the vicinity of dead fur- 
ows and to the lighter, poorer parts of the field. About five 
ixths of them were still in the red stages, the general ad- 
ancement of development being clearly less than in the stubble 
f the recently harvested wheat. This fact was probably due to* 
he later distribution of the old bugs in oats, as this crop was 
iot yet sown when the chinch bugs began to fly in the spring. 
In Effingham county, in 1887, many meadows and fields of oats 
?ere certainly destroyed by chinch bugs which bred in them 
rom the beginning of the season; and corn adjacent was invaded 
rom them in June and July, in the usual way. 
Oviposition in midsummer. —At Ashley, June 14, 1887, I noticed 
hat. adults which had entered corn from wheat adjoining, were 
'airing freely, while nothing of the kind was seen in the ripened 
