338 MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



completely passed through it. On seeing the preparation, I 

 was at first staggered, but on consideration I found a solution 

 of this ridiculous anomaly. The piece of stomach has been 

 allowed to become putrid, as its loose flocculent texture suffi- 

 ciently shows; and then the bots, which possess a hardishbody 

 when contracted, while living, have been, either purposely or 

 accidentally, by being rolled up in the substance, forced, some a 

 quarter, some half, and some entirely through it. Such is a 

 preparation which has misled some thousands : a second edi- 

 tion of my " Essay" may ere long appear, when the affair will 

 have a more lengthened exposure. 



The critic alluded to makes me to say, that these larvae feed 

 on the " vegetable contents of the horse's stomach ;" this shows 

 he knows nothing of the matter, for I have expressly stated 

 that they feed on chyle, which chyle is often tinged of a green 

 colour, from its impurity; — and pray what is the fluid to which 

 he alludes, but chyle ? 



The opinion that bots are not salutiferous, is worth nothing 

 at all, without some proofs to support it. I have given many 

 in support of a contrary opinion. 



Bracy Clark. 



Regent's Park, 

 January 16, 1838. 



Art. XXXVI. — Magazine of Natural History. Edited by 

 Edward Charlesworth, Esq. 



No. 13, Art. 5. — On Coptosoma ; an anomalous genus of 

 Heteropterous Insects. By J. O. Westwood, Esq. F.L.S. &c. 



The remarkable point in this insect, is the construction of 

 its fore wings; these are very much elongated, and when at 

 rest folded transversely, a peculiarity which has been as yet 

 discovered in no other group of insects. 



No. 14, Art. 1. — Notes by Mr. Turpin, on a species of AcaruSy 

 presented to the Academy at the sitting of the S'dth of October, 

 by Mr. Robertson, to whom it had been forwarded by Mr. 

 Cross, 



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