lxiv 
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 
recently made abroad relative to the Botrytis bassiana, a fungus 
which infested the silk- worm, of which Mr. Westwood had given 
an account at the August meeting of this Society. At the pre- 
sent meeting he presented drawings exhibiting the appearance 
which the excrescence emitted by these flies presented when 
highly magnified, and added, that from the dispersion of the par- 
ticles to a considerable distance around the body, it appeared to 
be a fungus, the sporules of which were thus discharged. When 
microscopically examined, it appeared to consist of elongated fila- 
ments in close contact ; when a small portion of it was compressed, 
it yielded a moisture without the appearance of distinct filaments ; 
but when moistened with water the fibres separated from the 
mass, some being simple, and others terminated by a minute 
globule. Those upon the wing appear merely globules. The 
appearance of these particles variously magnified are represented 
in Plate XX. fig. 2, a, b, c. 
Mr. Shuckard stated, that he had observed other flies besides 
the domestic fly thus attacked, having seen species of Scatophaga 
in the summer dead upon plants, to which they adhered by their 
feet. Mr. Shipster stated that he had noticed that flies thus de- 
stroyed remained adhering by their proboscis, and Mr. Stephens 
observed, that he had seen a species of the Hymenopterous genus 
Diodontus destroyed by a similar secretion. 
Mr. Westwood also exhibited specimens of the larva of Agrotis 
segetum, which had been very destructive this autumn in some of 
the midland counties upon turnips. He also gave some account 
of its mode of attacking those vegetables. 
“ Notes upon the Black Caterpillar, or Larva of Athalia centi- 
folice .” By Mr. W. Manning. With “ Additional Notes” by 
W. Sells, Esq. 
Mr. Manning’s communication is as follows : — 
“ In the summer of 1835, I had twenty-four acres of English 
turnips entirely destroyed by the black caterpillar, with the ex- 
ception of about two acres which were not hoed out. I well recollect 
noticing them on a Saturday morning in July ; of their being very 
numerous ; but from the strength of the plants, and looking so 
luxuriantly, I did not fear much harm. This was a little more 
than a fortnight or near three weeks after the turnips were up ; 
but on the Monday morning found that part of the field which 
had been hoed about four days was entirely destroyed, and so they 
went on with this work of destruction, which was the most com- 
plete I ever saw. I then stopped the man hoeing the two acres 
