“tulip-root” and segging; eelworms. 31 
maggots were of a kind not up to the present time observed in 
England, but known in Germany as those of the “Saddle Fly,” 
scientifically the Cecidomyia ( Diplosis ) equestris , Wagner. 
The maggots of this species are (at liarvest-time) red, with the food- 
canal showing through the skin as of a darker or black colour ; but to 
general observation they are very like our common “ red maggot,” 
only somewhat larger, the remarkable characteristic of the attack being 
the peculiar shape of the injuries to the straw. 
These, excepting in one instance, where the injury was in the form 
of a patch of diseased growth upon the surface, were small oval or 
narrow hollows, with a border of diseased growth, in most cases raised 
round them, so as to have the appearance of a row of little saddles set 
along the straw, as figured from a specimen sent. On the left-hand of 
the straw sketched is a magnified figure of one of these saddles, which, 
I am informed by Prof. Harker, of the Koyal Agricultural College, 
Cirencester, is quite characteristic of the method of injury of the 
Saddle Fly. The maggots are stated to go through their changes in 
the ground. The Saddle Fly Gnat Midge is much like our common 
Wheat Midge in shape, but larger; also differently coloured. It is 
described as cherry-red, with yellow hairs, pitchy coloured on the back 
between the wings, which are transparent, but not iridescent, and are 
yellow at the base; legs brown. 
At present we have not secured the perfect Fly; but it does not 
seem open to doubt that the attack is of this species, so I record it for 
further notice, specially drawing the attention of the reader to the 
observations not being yet complete. 
Mr. Eardley Mason informed me that a good deal of “ thin” foreign 
Barley, full of dirt, weed, seeds, and other rubbish, had been sold in 
Alford Market, and it is very likely the infestation may have been thus 
transmitted. 
“Tulip-root” and Segging; Eelworms. Tylenchus devastatrix, 
Kuhn. 
The Oat-plant disease, known from various peculiarities of deformed 
growth as Tulip-root, Segging, or Sedging, has now been under special 
observation since 1886, and if we do not know as yet all that could be 
wished as to prevention, at least (with the help of continental com¬ 
munication) the nature and life-history of the Eelworm, the Tylenchus 
devastatrix , which gives rise to this attack, is now well known; and so 
is much of the treatment required to keep it in check, together with 
the nature and proportion of special dressings which have been found 
by home experiment to succeed well in preventing or remedying the 
attack. 
