50 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA, 
{ must thank Dr. Willey and Mr. EK. E. Green for their interesting 
replies to my query re the fish-eating bee-eater. Since the pair, 
which I convicted of fishing, hatched out their young, they have 
abandoned their fishing expedition, and may be seen sitting on the 
tree facing their burrows catching insects (chiefly white butterflies) 
to feed their nestlings. 
By the end of the month they will have departed north. Thrush 
species have been abnormally common here this year, and migratory 
Raptores, such as harriers, equally scarce. Not long agoI noticed 
an India swiftlet with a large white ‘‘ yoke” or collar. It was very 
conspicuous amongst its “ all dark ” associates, and remained in the 
same locality for some weeks. 
EK. GORDON REEVES. 
Wiltshire, Matale, May 7, 1910. 
2. Extracts from ‘‘ Entomological Notes”? by the Government 
Entomologist, from the ‘‘ Tropical Agriculturist,” Vol. XXXIV., 
April, 1910 :— 
A Blood-sucking Bug.—A correspondent has sent me specimens 
of an evil-looking bug which had been gorging itself at his expense. 
It is quite distinct from the notorious ‘‘ B-flat’ (or bed-bug, 
Cimex lectularius), though it has acquired the same objectionable 
tastes and habits. The examples first received were small and 
immature, but their bodies were fully distended with blood. My 
correspondent reports that he was disturbed at night by the bites of 
these creatures, and found several of them crawling about the bed. 
The consequent irritation was severe. Subsequently the adult insect 
(probably the parent of the troublesome brood) was discovered in 
the same situation. It proves to be a Reduviid bug (Conorhinus 
rubrofasciatus), an insect of quite formidable size, measuring over an 
inch in length. 
Bugs of this family normally prey upon other insects ; but several 
species of Conorhinus have gained an evil reputation,as systematic 
blood suckers. C. sanguisugus is a troublesome domestic pest in 
parts of the United States ; Darwin, in his ‘‘ Voyage of the Beagle,” 
describes a species of Conorhinus that attacks travellers when: 
camping out on the Pampas of South America. As far as I know 
the present record is the first of the kind from Ceylon. The insects - 
frequent outhouses, hiding amongst the rafters during the day- 
time and sallying out to feed at night. . 
The Colombo Lake Fly.—I have at last received the scientific 
name of the notorious ‘‘ Lake Fly.” It can now be definitely labelled 
as Chironomus ceylanicus. I fear, however, that this knowledge 
will not appreciably mitigate the inconvenience occasioned by the 
pest. 
K. E. GREEN. 
