June, 1841.] 45 



Verbal Communications. Dr. B. H. Coates stated, that out 

 of about 20 stalks of bearded wheat, which he had recently 

 examined in Moyamensing, and which were selected as not 

 having been able to develop their seeds, the greater part pre- 

 senting the appearance called smut, he found all but two to 

 have the aspect of having been stung by insects, in the first or 

 second joint, generally the first. In all but four, the resem- 

 blance of a sting appeared to penetrate the cavity of the straw, 

 and the inside had the appeara nee of having been eroded, with a 

 perforation extending to the outside. Opposite to two of these, 

 on the outside, and under the sheaths of the first and second 

 joints, he found puparia, resembling those of the familiar Ceci- 

 domyia of Say. One of these was empty ; and the separa- 

 tion of the leaf sheath from the stalk, with a black streak, 

 pointed out a route by which the animal could have escaped. 

 These cases last enumerated corresponded with the verbal 

 communications of Miss M. A. Morris. 



On the outside of another basal stipule of wheat, he found 

 two quiescent animal bodies, whitish, with dark spots, having 

 much of the general appearance of what is considered by Mr. 

 Say, the larva of the Cecidomyia. One of them in 24 hours 

 became of a pale brown and shrivelled ; and in two days more 

 developed a dipterous fly, which farmers said they should 

 have classed among the common destroyers of the wheat, 

 and which was exactly of the size of Say's figure, measuring 

 3-20ths of an inch in length ; but was of a paler colour, and 

 had setaceous antennse. Its general aspect resembled that of 

 a tipulide fly. After a partial inspection by a gentleman who 

 had bestowed much labour on Entomology, the impression was 

 received that it did not belong to the genus Cecidomyia; and 

 the specimen is kept for accurate examination. 



Professor Johnson drew the attention of the society to the 

 atmospheric phenomena attendant on extensive conflagration ; 

 and stated on the authority of Dr. H. King of Washington 



