362 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV, 



some species are certainly numerous, among them Cephalomyia maculata, the 

 larva of which comes to maturity in the camel's nostril, causing great irritation. 



A species of Hippobosca is also common, attacking both horses and dogs. 



Among the lesser known classes of insects may be included the Hemiptera 

 (bugs), of which a considerable number of various species occur, among them 

 being of course Cimex lectularius, so noxious to the human race. Cicadas, a 

 species of which appeared in enormous numbers during the present year, are 

 part of this family : the noisy song of the males cannot fail to attract attention. 

 This group is of interest, as the larvae frequently takes many years to develop, 

 the perfect insect appearing sometimes at intervals of 13 and even 17 years. 

 These insects did some damage to trees during this year, being present in mil- 

 lions : many kinds of birds may have been observed preying on them. 



Aphides, frequently called plant-lice, do great damage to many fruit trees, 

 and I believe that the galls, which so disfigure many of the poplar trees in and 

 near Quetta, are the work of an insect of this group. 



The above is, of course, only a rough outline of the numerous insects which 

 are found near Quetta. In the present state of our knowledge of entomology 

 it is impossible to give anything like a complete list of the insect fauna of any 

 portion of the Indian Empire. 



C. G. NURSE, Major, 



13th Bombay Infantry. 



Quetta, August, 1903. 



No. XVII.— CURIOUS ACCIDENT TO THE COMMON SWIFT 

 {CYPSELUS AFFINIS). 



I am sending you an account which I do not think can be called a unique 

 instance of unpremeditated suicide in a bird, but it is nevertheless a case for our 

 sympathy. The little swift I send was found hanging close to its nest strangled 

 by the string which is now attached to it. I think there was a photograph in 

 the " Strand Magazine " some time ago of a similar instance, the subject being 

 a sparrow. In the present case the story has the unimpeachable authority of 

 our local vicar ; and the explanation is simple, viz , that the string, which 

 is double, was flying loose near the nest and the bird got accidentally caught in 

 it. I send it as priven to me, as it may be of interest. 



M. D. MACKENZIE. 

 Hyderabad (Sind), August 4, 1903. 



