46 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



tlie wood, and back along the banks of the stream " — one walk for 

 each of the four seasons — is very suggestive to the budding naturalist. 

 One little grumble we must be allowed— instead of " animals and 

 birds and insects," we feel bound to ask for " birds, insects, and other 

 animals," especially as the book is intended for beginners. Every- 

 one separates living things into two groups — animals and plants. If 

 birds and insects are not animals, what are they ? W J L 



Preliminanj Report on the Habits, Life-cycle and Br ceding -places 

 of the Common House-fly (Musca domestica), as Observed in the 

 City of Liverpool. By R. Newstead, A.L.S., F.E.S. Liver- 

 pool. 1907. 

 We have here a report of more than ordinary importance, and it 

 is unfortunate that copies can be obtained apparently only at the 

 Town Clerk's Office in Liverpool. We have always looked upon the 

 House-fly as a nuisance at the best ; after reading this report, 

 especially that part relating to its breeding-places, we scarcely like 

 to think what it might become at its worst. Various means of 

 reducing the numbers of the House-fly are suggested, and apparently 

 it has one very effective enemy in tlie domestic fowl. The parasitic 

 fungus, Empiisa musca, that kills so many House-flies in the autumn, 

 is not mentioned — perhaps no use can be made of it. Apparently 

 there still appears to be not much known about the winter condition 

 of this insect. 



W. J. L. 



OBITUARY. 

 Henry Guard Knaggs, M.D. 



Henry Guard Knaggs, M.D., was born in High Street, Camden 

 Town, on March 21st, 1832, and was edvicated at University College 

 School. His father, a medical man himself, had him trained up in 

 his own profession at University College Hospital, after which he 

 married, and started in practice in Kentish Town, afterwards re- 

 moving to Camden Town. As a young man he interested himself 

 greatly in entomology, and formed one of the finest collections of 

 British Lepidoptera in England. He also became a member of the 

 Entomological Society of London. During the sixties, the numerous 

 entomologists who then lived in the nortli of London constantly used 

 to meet at his house, or to walk home in parties together after the 

 meetings of the Entomological Society. Among them were H. W. 

 Bates, F. Moore, H. Vaughan, E. W. Robinson, H. Jekel, W. F. Kirby, 

 and others ; and entomologists and botanists from other parts of 

 England (of whom F. Bond and J. Boswell Syme may be especially 

 mentioned) were occasionally to be met at his house. 



The ' Entomologist's Monthly Magazine ' was started in 1864 

 with a staff" of five editors — T. Blackburn, H. G. Knaggs, M.D., 

 R. McLachlan, F.L.S., E. C. Rye, and H. T. Stainton, F.L.S. Black- 



