305 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Instinct in Chrysalis of Pararge m^ra. :;: — On the 19th May 

 last, in the afternoon, I collected twenty-one chrysalids of P. mam 

 from a wall near Moulins (Allier), and placed them in my caterpillar 

 box. To minimise the inevitable shocks of transport, I covered them 

 with a handful of fresh leaves, and carried the box as nearly as possible 

 in one position. On my return, after a slow walk of about an hour, 

 the box was placed on a table, and left unopened till eight o'clock the 

 next morning. On removing the leaves, I observed that of the twenty- 

 one chrysalids only eight were 4solated ; the thirteen others were 

 associated, each one joined at the apex of the abdomen, forming four 

 groups : two groups of two, one of three, and one of six ; the last 

 appearing like a six-rayed star. It seems indubitable that a state of 

 repose is the natural condition of the evolutive life of a chrysalis, and 

 we ought not to be surprised at seeing the blind power of instinct 

 attempting to re-establish equilibrium when accidentally disturbed. 



Further Notes on the Accidents caused by Bee-stings. f — (1) A 

 man, thirty-five years old — stung by bees — was obliged to lie down for 

 a whole day with fever (temperature, 38*4° C. = about 101° F.), loss 

 of appetite and sleep. (2) A inan, aged twenty-five — fell into a quasi- 

 coma, and for a time lost memory. (3) Thirty- two years old — fever 

 (40-1° C. = about 104° F. ), lasting twenty-four hours. (4) Twenty- 

 nine years old — fever (39*2° C — about 102^° F.), loss of appetite, 

 nausea, diarrhoea, slightly delirious. (5) Twenty-seven years old — 

 fever (38-7° C. = about 101° F.), vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive 

 excitement, nightmare. The venom presumably acts principally upon 

 the nervous centres, owing to a special toxin, the existence of which is 

 indubitable, and which is effective according to the constitution of the 

 subject. In some neuropaths the stings cause transitory fears, which 

 compel them to avoid bee-hives. A young man, of twenty-seven, con- 

 fessed to me, some time after his restoration to health, that he dared 

 not pass in front of a bee-hive now, and at the idea of visiting one he 

 shivered and turned pale. I have seen him since, and he has been 

 obliged to get rid of his hives, as he could not overcome the involuntary 

 fear which mastered him at the sight of a bee. I propose to call this 

 phenomenon "Apiphobia." To conclude, the following are the morbid 

 symptoms ensuing on bee-stings : fever (often violent), inflammation of 

 the injured part, itching, vomiting, delirium, nightmare, &c. ; and, in 

 some cases, apiphobia. 



Wanted. — Authentic records of Gerrid^e from localities outside 

 the London district, especially the common species, viz. : Hydrometra 

 stagnorum, Gerris gibbifer, &c. These are wanted for an early number 

 of the ' Entomologist.'— G. W. Kirkaldy ; St. Abbs, Wimbledon, 

 Surrey. 



:;: G. de Rocquigny Adanson, in Bull. Soc. Ent. France, 1899. (Trans- 

 lated by G. W. Kirkaldy.) 



f E. Spalikowski, in ' Le Naturaliste,' 1899, p. 85. (Translated by 

 G. W. Kirkaldy.) 



BNTOM. — DECEMBEE, 1899. 2 E 



