274 ; THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
CANTHARIS veEsIcaTorIA, Linn.— The blister-beetle is of 
sufficiently rare occurrence in England as to make the capture of 
it worthy of notice. A single specimen was taken on the 8th of 
September by my friend, Mr. H. T. Mennell, at Freshwater, 
Isle of Wight, sunning itself on a leaf of the common nettle. 
This insect, when caught, and for several days after it was killed, 
emitted a very powerful and offensive odour, and the box it was 
pinned in was perfumed by it with a scent very strongly resem- 
bling a dead mouse in a state of decomposition.—V. R. PrrKins. 
DELEASTER DICHROUS.—While sitting at supper with friends 
at Hythe, on the 6th June, an insect flew into the flame of the gas 
and fell on to the table. Perceiving it was a beetle I secured it, 
and subsequent examination proved the value of the capture. A 
few evenings later I caught a second specimen on the wing. This 
is the first time I have met with this species, and know nothing 
of its habits. It is certainly a very conspicuous insect on the 
wing.—THomas H. Harr; Kingsnorth, Kent. 
AN ALLEGED Instincr or Mosaqurrors.— It is commonly 
stated that when a mosquito is engaged in sucking the blood of 
its victim it holds up its posterior pair of legs and by their means 
perceives the agitation of the air caused by an approaching hand 
in time to avoid the blow. On examining gnats, whether resting 
upon a window-pane, a rail, or any other body where blood- 
sucking is out of the question, it will be found that in a majority 
of cases they adopt this same attitude, either with both the hind 
legs, or at any rate with one of them. Nor do they seem aware 
of an approaching hand sooner than many other insects.—J. W. 
SiatER; Aylesbury, September, 1879. 
SUGGESTED REMEDY FoR Insurtous Insects.—In a recent 
number (June, 1879) of the ‘Canadian Entomologist’ there is. a 
four-page article by Dr. H. Hagen, in which the suggestion is 
thrown out that the use of beer mash or diluted yeast would prove 
beneficial in destroying certain destructive insect pests, where 
syringing or direct sprinkling of the pests is practicable. This 
recommendation has not been put to actual test, but the author 
brings it forward on the ground that “it is neither an hypothesis 
nor a guess-work, but simply the application of true and well- 
observed facts.” The remedy is founded on the data said to have 
been proved by Dr. Bail, of Prussia, by actual experiments 
