316 



British species — and, as he says, to those only which have come 

 under his own observation, extends to four good sized volumes. 



Formerly the study of entomology was looked upon as a some- 

 what frivolous and useless pursuit, and Kirby and Spence record 

 that an attempt was made to set aside the will of Lady Glanville 

 on the ground of lunacy, evinced by no other act than her 

 fondness for collecting insects, and that Ray had to appear at 

 Exeter on the trial, as a witness to her sanity. Or, coming 

 nearer our own time, when less than 60 years ago (as recorded 

 by Darwin in his Naturalist's Journal), a certain M. Renous found 

 himself arrested at St. Fernando in Chili on a charge of witch- 

 craft, because he kept some caterpillars that turned into 

 butterflies. 



Latterly we have had a good illustration of the usefulness of 

 this study — I allude to the Hessian Fly scare. It has been 

 found that this destructive insect did not come unattended, but 

 that several species of parasites came with it, which it is to be 

 hoped may keep it in due bounds. Exactly 100 years ago (1788), 

 there was a perfect panic about it in this country. It was called 

 the Hessian fly, under the idea that it was carried to America by 

 the Hessian troops in their straw from Germany. It is a very 

 small two-winged fly, belonging to the same family as the common 

 Daddy-long-legs (Tipulidcc). 



In a French newspaper, the Montpellkr Midical, for February, 

 1885, there was an article under the title, "un nouveau cas 

 d'application de I'entomologie h la Medicine legale " (Entomology 

 and Medical Jurisprudence). It said that when pulling down an 

 old house at Montpellier, the workmen discovered the mummified 

 remains of a new-born infant concealed under the flooring. An 

 enquiry was held on the remains, which (owing to their condition) 

 mainly resolved itself into a question as to how long a period had 

 elapsed since they were deposited. As insect remains were 

 present, M. Lichtenstein was asked to report as an " expert." He 

 found in the linen in which the body was wrapped numerous 



