10 
horny ovipositor, which plays with great ease and tentative motion 
on the two telescopic sub-joints of the abdomen, is thrust between 
the folded sides of the blade, and the eggs are glued along the 
groove in rows from five to twenty, and covered with a white, glis¬ 
tening adhesive fluid, which not only fastens them to each other, 
but draws the two sides of the grass blade close around them, so 
that nothing but a narrow, glistening streak is visible. I think, 
also, that the two edges of the grass blade are sometimes clasped 
by the opening hind border of the ovipositor, so as to give the in¬ 
sect a firmer hold, and fold the leaf more closely on the eggs. 
Finding it difficult to make satisfactory observations in the field, I 
transferred living moths to glass cages which were furnished with 
blue grass sward. Here again most of the eggs were laid in the 
manner described, and on the green and dry blades indifferently; 
some were, however, thrust in between the sheath and stalk, as I 
had anticipated they might be, while others were thrust into the 
crevices on the side of the sward, which had been cut with a knife. 
The female once having commenced to lay, is extremely active 
and busy, especially during warm nights, and I should judge that 
but two or three days are required to empty the ovaries, which 
have a uniform development. A string of 15 or 20 eggs is placed 
in position in two or three minutes, and by the end of ten more I 
have known the moth to choose another leaf ami supply it with 
another string.” 
Prof. J. H. Comstock, in his report to the U. S. Agricultural De¬ 
partment for 1879, describes the process as follows: “The moth de¬ 
posits her eggs in the folds of the grass or grain, always concealing 
them from sight by pushing them down into the unfolded portion 
of the leaf, or by cementing the edges of leaf together. Sometimes, 
however, they are laid in a partial fold and remain partially exposed 
to view. The eggs are laid singly or in rows, which sometimes con¬ 
tain as many as fifteen or twenty.” He also gives a figure showing 
their position on the leaf. 
It will be seen from these quotations, as heretofore stated, that 
the supposition as to the place where the eggs were deposited, was 
substantially correct, the only difference being that they are placed 
on the leaves of the grass instead of on the stem. My supposition 
that those of the first brood are deposited very early in the Spring 
and in the night time proves also to have been correct. But to 
Prof. Riley is due the credit of having first observed the moth in 
the act of ovipositing; and to Prof. Comstock of having first figured 
the eggs in position. Prof. Riley describes the eggs as follows: 
“When first laid, spherical 0.02 in diameter, smooth, opaque, white; 
covered with a glistening adhesive fluid; shell delicate, becoming 
faintly iridescent and more sordid before heating.” Prof Comstock 
as follows: “The egg is white and almost spherical. Its average 
diameter is 6 milometers (0.28 inch.), The perfect outline is some¬ 
times lost from the gummy substance which covers it, and which 
holds it in place.” 
The following notice of supposed eggs is given by Mr. Sliurtleff 
in the article already mentioned: “In a letter to Mr. F. W. Put- 
num May 15, which has been kindly lent to me by that gentleman, 
Mr. S. P. Fowler says that these appeared to have been some eggs 
