[ ni ] 



fi-otu them. Tbe cbigo was a very dreadful fellow ; having a babit 

 of inserting itself into tbe skin round about the nails or any ex- 

 posed jiart of the body. When the female wished to lay its eggs, 

 it inserted its body into the flesh of whatever it attacked. This caused 

 no irritation at the time; but, soon after, the insect increased 

 enoi'mously in size, and, unless carefully removed, would cause a 

 very troublesome ulcer ; in more than one case having led to the 

 amputation of a liuib. The negro-women in South America 

 were exceedingly skilful in removing these fleas with a needle. 

 "Wallis iu bis History of St. Domingo reports that a Capuchin 

 friar, who wished to bring away from that island a colony of chigoes, 

 permitted them to establish themselves in one of his feet, as a 

 present to the scientific colleges of Eui-ope, but unfortunately for 

 the cause of science, tbe foot mortified, was amputated, and 

 with its inhabitants was committed to the waves. 



Another matter of interest, which had recently come under his 

 notice, had been furnished by the Rev. Mr. Anbry, who had showed 

 him some specimens illustrative of the "developmental " theory, in 

 connection with ticks. That gentleman brought him three 

 specimens of ticks ; the dog tick, red deer tick, and forest-fly. The 

 first-named were wingless ; the red deer ticks had abortive wings, 

 or wings much resembling what those of tbe common fly would look 

 like if snipped with the scissors ; whilst the wings of the forest-fly 

 were fully developed. In every other respect, as well as in their 

 habits, all these insects were identical, so that, as far as the wings 

 were concei'ned, tbe Darwinian theory certainly received an extra- 

 ordinary illustration. 



The meeting then became a Conversazione and proceeded to 

 inspect tbe various slides of fleas shown by the members. 



May 13th. 



ORDINARY MEETINC;.— MR. T. W. WONFOR ON 



"THE BRIGHTON AQUARIUM: WHAT IT 



HAS DONE FOR SCIENCE." 



It might fairly be said that in no branch of Natural History 

 was there so much ignorance, even among those who professed a 



