OF WASHINGTON. 159 



discharge an irritating fluid from a tube opening on their 

 heads. Still another lives on top of the ground in bright sun- 

 light. T. bellicosus is the commonest species and T. fatalis 

 builds the highest mounds, often 15 feet in height. Their 

 ravages are enormous. Earwigs are numerous and remark- 

 able. Some are of large size (Apachya chartacea and A. 

 reichardi). The most interesting is a gigantic new genus and 

 species (Sacnodes wellmani) which nips severely with its 

 pincers, drawing a drop of blood. As it lives in refuse the 

 wound inflicted often festers badly and the natives have come 

 to consider it venomous. A large Australian species (Aniso- 

 labis colossa) has much the same habits and reputation. A 

 number of species of Orthoptera were mentioned, among them 

 the giant cricket (Brachytrypus nicmbranaceus), which is used 

 for food, and the travelling locust (Schist ocerca peregrina). 

 This latter appears in clouds which darken the sun. It is 

 often infested by a nematode (Gordius), and is eaten in vast 

 quantities by a plover-like bird (Glare old nordmanni). Locusts 

 are employed by the indigenous blacks as an article of diet. 

 On one occasion the insects were found dying over a large 

 area but the cause of death could not be ascertained. Bugs 

 were next taken up. The common bed bug is not lectularius 

 but a new species. Reduviidse are striking and include several 

 " kissing bugs," notably Sphcdanolcstes zvellmani. Among 

 Homoptera there are a number of very large handsome cicadas 

 belonging chiefly to the genus Platypleura. A number of 

 Lepidoptera were collected. A singular fact is that a large 

 moth (Macroglossa trochilioidcs} is usually mistaken by the 

 colonists for a hummingbird. The larvae of various Lima- 

 codidse, Arctiidse, and Liparidse have caterpillars with stinging 

 hairs, causing urticaria when handled. Several very large 

 saturnids were also mentioned, as well as the habits of the very 

 common Limnas chrysippns and the gregarious Lampides tcli- 

 canus, etc. Diptera (including fleas) were next reviewed. 

 The ovipositing of an ephydrid fly in ants (Cremastogaster) 

 was mentioned as a striking departure from the usual habits of 

 the family. The terrible "veldt gnat" (Shnuliitiii ^'cllinani), 

 the parasitic "floor maggot" (Auchmcrotnyia hiteola}, the 



