58 
PEAS. 
was surprised to find numbers of Sitona larvae in all stages of growth , 
some evidently just hatched, others nearly or quite full-grown. This 
field was noticed in harvest-time to he swarming with Clover-weevils, 
the platform of the reaper being literally covered with them when the 
Barleg was being cut.” 
“Dec. 28tli, examined several plants of Clover, and in each case 
found larvae at the roots. 
“ Jan. 11th (1883), made a general examination of the Clover 
fields. We have over fifty acres of Red Clover this year, grown after 
very different crops and under different circumstances, all more or less 
affected. In fifteen acres of Clover, grown with Barley, the Weevils 
were numerous ; in fifteen acres, grown with Wheat after summer’s 
fallow, they are not quite so abundant.In no case have 
I found any pupae, although full-grown larvae occur frequently. 
“ I found several Weevils hybernating in the outside of a Clover - 
seed stack, and have no doubt they do so in large quantities, as 
I shook several out of a small bunch of heads.” 
Looking at the series of observations together there is no doubt 
that it is these legions of Weevils, many of which are noticed on the 
platforms of the reapers or on the floors of the waggons, that are the 
starters of the next attack. 
Some of these, as noted below, go into winter quarters down the 
hollow stubble straws, and in the following spring they come out to 
feed on the leaves of the Peas or Clover, &c., and to lay eggs and 
continue their species ; but many begin their egg-laying at once. 
Mr. Christy noted before that on October 21st the Clover roots were 
free ; now, as observation went on, he found about a month later many 
of the maggots, some of them just hatched, and these maggots were to 
be found throughout the winter. 
The two following observations also confirm the point of the 
enormous number of Weevils to be seen at harvest-time, and the fact 
of the creatures sheltering for hybernation down the stubble straws ,— 
Mr. D. Turvill, writing of the vast number of these pests to 
be seen on his land at West Worldham, Alton, Hants, mentions :—“ I 
have been busy carting Peas ; these were swarming with Weevils, 
lying an inch thick in the bed of the waggons, and numbering millions. 
An inspection of the barn now shows myriads crawling out of the Peas 
and covering everything, ‘ as thick as the hairs on a hog’s back.’ ” 
On Sept. 25th the Rev. J. C. Clutterbuck, of Long Wittenham 
Vicarage, Abingdon, mentioned he had just heard that the Sitona 
lineata had appeared in the stubble, taking refuge in the open straws 
above the joints, and threatening the early-sown Trifolium incarnatum. 
The above notes, taken together, give a pretty fair idea of the 
history of these various Weevils through the year. It is scarcely 
