THE ENTOMOLOGIST. $23 
with some substance during hybernation, which had chemi- 
cally altered the coloration. Mr. Janson said he had noticed 
that yellow insects killed by cyanide of potassium became 
red. Mr. Cowan said the individual exhibited had been 
killed by chloroform, and, moreover, it was in precisely the 
same condition when captured. 
Shower of Insects at Bath.—Mr. Lewis, Mr. M‘Lachlan 
and other Members brought before the notice of the meeting 
paragraphs that had been going the round of the newspapers 
concerning a phenomenon observed apparently on two recent 
occasions at Bath; it appearing that after violent storms the 
ground was covered with some creatures, variously described 
as Annelides and insects, which had baffled the knowledge 
possessed by the “scientific men” of that city. Prof. West- 
wood thought the creatures were probably Branchypus 
stagnalis, a large fresh-water entomostracon. 
[It will be seen by a reference to a note (see page 313) 
appended to one of the numerous communications addressed 
to the ‘Entomologist’ on this subject, that I have ventured to 
express an opinion on a matter that “has baffled the 
knowledge of the scientific men of Bath,” an opinion which 
is also at variance with Prof. Westwood’s judgment that these 
minute worms were “a large freshwater entomostracon.” — 
Edward Newman. | 
Galls on Pleris aquilina.—Mr. Miller communicated the 
following note on a gall found on Pteris aquilina:—* In 
March, 1869, Mr. Rothney placed in my hands ‘a chip-box 
containing a desiccated excrescence of about the size of a 
very large pea, and some Cynipideous insects, as well as two 
specimens of a Callimome. Mr. Rothney informed me at the 
same time that he had found this excrescence on the common 
bracken (Pteris aquilina) at Shirley. The excrescence was 
bleached to a straw-colour, but its condition prevented my 
being able to form a correct opinion as to the plant from 
which it was taken; and besides, apart a very doubtful case, 
I then knew of no gall on any fern. On dissecting the gall Ll 
found it composed of an accumulation of small larval cells, 
some of them still containing dead specimeus of the maker. 
The insects being in a very bad condition, I did not think it 
worth my while to examine them, so | carded them with the 
excrescence and put them aside. Having lately had occasion 
