281 



of Dekay. It measured nine feet from the snout to the 

 extremity of the tail. It is described by Dekay as hav- 

 ing three caudal spines ; this specimen, however, pre- 

 sented but one, and the stump of a second, anterior to it. 



DEPARTMENT OP MICROSCOPY. 



The Secretary, Dr. B. S. Shaw, exhibited specimens of 

 the larva of some species of Fly {Musca or (Estrus), 

 which were found in the skin of the scalp, face, neck, 

 and back of a child seven days old. 



The specimens were imbedded in pustules of about one eighth 

 of an inch in diameter, resting upon an inflamed base half an inch 

 or more in width. The only specimen preserved for examination 

 was placed in alcohol. After it had been immersed in this fluid 

 for sevei'al days, it was found to measure a quarter of an inch in 

 length by a sixteenth in breadth. Color white. Body composed 

 of eleven segments, exclusive of head ; anterior portion of each 

 segment surrounded by a band of bristles or spines. Head 

 armed with two black booklets ; no visible mouth. 



Cuvier speaks of the mouth of the cutaneous larvas as " being 

 composed of fleshy lobes only, whilst that of the internal larvae 

 is armed with two strong bent hooks." If this is true, the natu- 

 ral nidus of these larvae would seem to be the internal organs 

 rather than the skin. Humboldt, Rudolphi, Linnaeus, Gmelin, 

 and others, speak of a species of Qilstrus as (Estrus hominis. 

 This species, however, so far as is known, has only been met 

 with in South America, and when thoroughly studied may prove 

 to be identical with one of those better known. In endeavoring 

 to ascertain what is known concerning the presence of maggots in 

 the human body, the Secretary had met with a large number of 

 cases where the mucous membranes had been infested with them, 

 and with several cases where the skin had been chosen as the 

 nidus for the larva or agg. Of the Coleopterous insects, such as 

 beetles, mealworms, &c., he had collected between thirty and 

 forty cases, where their larvai had been found in the stomach, 

 intestines, urinary organs, nostrils, and inner canthus of eye. 

 The larvai of Neuroptera and Lepidoptera have been found in 



