1018 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XJX. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETINGS OF 

 THE BALUCHISTAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY HELD IN 

 THE QUETTA MUSEUM AND LIBRARY BUILDING ON 20ni 

 JULY, 2Gth AUGUST, SOtii SEPTEMBER AND 28Tn OCTOBER 

 1909. 



2d/h July 1909. 



Reud IcLtor dated ilie 28th July 1909, from Major F. C. Webb-Ware, C.I.E., 

 and an extract from letter of the same date from Mr, G. H. Frost, regarding 

 the Quctta Cicada, The Honorary Secretary remarked that on the 3rd July 

 he found a pupa crawling on the ground and that the flying insect emerged in 

 an hour's time. He also remarked that all the flying insects in the station had 

 disappeared by about the 10th of the month. 



Dated 20th July 1909. 

 Dear Mr. Cummixg, • 



Your interesting note on the subject of the Cicada which recently appeared 

 in such numbers in Quetta. I have been connected with Quetta now for 

 nearly 20 years, but I certainly do not recollect the swarms or in fact any but 

 isolated insects of this species. There is a small type of this same insect 

 which is common to Baluchistan, and is usually to be found where fairly long 

 grass grows. For instance, I have frequently seen it at Pishin. The pupa in, 

 I think, the larger number of cases emerges in its pupa covering from the 

 ground and climbs on to a branch of the nearest tree. Y^ou will always find 

 their holes below trees or bushes. The pupa then suns itself for a short period 

 and emerges from its covering which splits open down the back. After sunning 

 itself for some little time, the fully developed insect dries and then can take 

 to flight. The noise they make is due to the rapid vibration of a membrane 

 which is situated on either side of where the body and extremity join. 

 They emit three or four notes, and I dare say you noticed that the Cicada 

 on one tree always emit the same note. The most interesting fact to ascertain 

 is why it is that these insects should have appeared in such numbers this 

 year, also their method of propagating their species, etc. In Australia you 

 obtain various kinds of the same, but they run to li to 2 inches long, and have 

 the most brilliant colouring, gold being common. In Seistan the Cicada — a 

 small black type — used to give us considerable trouble by appearing uninvited 

 at dinner, — Yours sincerely, 



F. C. WEBB-WARE. 



Di:ar Sir, 



I notice the black ants are carrying the eggs of the Cicada away and should 

 therefore be the means of great reduction in the number that comes to the 

 larval stage. 



[Sd.) (i. 11. l-'UOST, 



