1899] Fletcher^Worm-Snakes and Snake-Worms. 173 



this curious object and was told that the larvie had been killed by 

 covering them with salt." 



There are accounts ot" these curious aggregations of larvae in 

 many American and European publications {e. ^. Lisect Life, iv, p. 

 215). In Europe, worm-snakes have been recorded which were 4 

 or 5 inches wide and from 10 to 12 feet long. Most of the Amer- 

 ican accounts (which may perhaps seem strange to some !) de- 

 scribe as a rule worm-snakes much more moderate in proportions, 

 viz. from 3 to 6 feet in length by from i to 3 inches wide. Upon 

 one occasion only have I seen one of these worm-snakes. This was 

 some miles from Nepigon, north of Lake Superior, in the month of 

 August. The snake was about 4 feet long, about an inch wide 

 and with a large expansion about one third of the length from the 

 head. I had no convenience at the time to preserve the larvae 

 alive so as to identify the species. It is probable that several spe- 

 cies of Sciara have this strange habit but I am not aware that any- 

 one has ever reared to maturity and published the name of the 

 American species. Unfortlinately most people who have the op- 

 portunity, like those who put salt on the larvae seen by Mr. Will- 

 ing, are much more likely to practise the stupid habit of destroy- 

 ing everything they do not quite understand instead of trying to 

 learn a little more about it. 



J. FLETCHER. 



Amoner the latest contributions to the Herbarium of the Nor- 

 mal School is a very beautiful collection of 100 mounted Botani- 

 cal specimens illustrating the flora of the Rocky Mountains in the 

 vicinity of Banff', presented to the herbarium by Dr. Jas. Fletcher. 

 The Normal School herbarium already contains a fine series of the 

 plants of the vicinity of Ottawa, and this latest contribution not 

 only adds greatly to the value of the herbarium, but these western 

 plants will enable students to compare eastern with western forms 

 in the same genera. S. B. S. 



