THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 243 



paring the specimens with the typical collection in the U. S. National 

 Museum, they agree in all respects with Volucella fasciata, heretofore not 

 recorded north of North Carolina. In his monograph, Dr. Williston in 

 the review of larval habits as far as known, gives Volucella as parasitic in 

 the nests of bumble bees. This, therefore, adds not only a new locality, 

 but some positive information on the habits of one of the species of 

 Vohicella, which is certainly not parasitic and has no connection with 

 bumble bees. 



Mr. H. E. Weed made some remarks on 



THE NATURAL HABITAT OF THE SCREW-WORM. 



The life-history and habits of this insect, Compsomyia ?nace/laria, 

 have been given in full in recent bulletins published by the Texas, 

 Louisiana and Mississippi Experiment Stations. A. review of the litera- 

 ture is not necessary here, and it suffices to say that it is generally 

 supposed to have its natural habitat in living animals. 



It has been well known for some time, however, that the insect also 

 passes through its transformations in dead flesh and decaying vegetable 

 matter. Many observations made this season led him to conclude that 

 the insect's natural habitat is dead flesh, as is the case with many others 

 of the MuscidcB. 



A visit to any slaughter-house in Mississippi at this season will reveal 

 the larvae in very large numbers among the refuse matter thrown out. 

 The flies may be seen ovipositing or resting upon weeds or flowers in the 

 immediate vicinity. He has taken them by the thousands in sweeping 

 the weeds and bushes with a net. 



At the college, this year, he has collected the flies and knows of no 

 case of screw-worm in that part of the State. If there were cases in live 

 animals he is quite sure they would have been reported. But few cases 

 of screw-worm have been known this season in the southern part of the 

 State, although flies are present in large numbers. It seems probable, 

 therefore, that the occurrence of this insect in living flesh is exceptional 

 rather that the rule. 



Mr. Mann had not seen Mr. Weed's report, but had believed that 

 eggs were laid in wounds of animals, not in healthy tissue. 



Mr. Weed said eggs were often laid in wounds, and especially where 

 ticks had been killed on the skin, so causing a clot of blood. 



On motion, the Club adjourned till i p.m. 



