REPORT OF THE SOCIETY 31 



ever, I have not been able to find out what is the scientific and English name of the 

 insect called in vernacular French bridot. I would be very much obliged to 

 you if you would be kind enough to give me the scientific and English name of 

 that noxious insect, which I only know by reputation. At L. T. nobody could 

 give me anj^ information concerning this insect. 



Your humble servant, 



F. B. 



On the receipt of the above letter, I made an immediate reply as satis- 

 factory as possible to my correspondent; at the same time I resolved to 

 use the reply for the next annual convention of the Quebec Society for the 

 Protection of Plants as the basis of a paper that might possibly be of some use 

 to those who have suffered from the attacks of the Black Fly, but who did not, 

 however, know its scientific name. 



I have written at the beginning of this paper three words; the two first 

 as vernacular terms, and the third, as the scientific designation of the "Brulot". 

 To give my correspondent the true signification of the term "Moustique" 

 as he wished me to do, I would use the English word "Gnat", to give that of the 

 term "Briilot" the English words "Black Flies" and to give that of the term 

 "Simulie", the latin word "Simulia". If one adds as the scientific French 

 appellation of that insect the word, "simulie", we will have the complete 

 nomenclature of all the names used to express the term "Brulot", this plaguy 

 insect which, during certain seasons, torments so sorely our poor humanity. 



Now, to indicate the sources which have helped me to give the nomen- 

 clature, I shall give, in order of date, the books where I have found the names. 



At page 141 of volume 3rd of the "Xaturaliste Canadien'', (Provancher), 

 in 1871, I find the following reference to the "Briilot": 



" Dipterous insect, vernacalarly named: "Briilot"; French name "Simiile"; 

 "latin name, "Simulia". To that reference in the "Xaturaliste" I may add: 

 'Vernacular English names: "Biting gnat", "Black Flj^". 



In the sixth volume of "Le Dictionnaire des Dictionnaires", by I'abbe 

 Paul Guerin, published in 1886, I find, under the head of "Simiili", the following 

 lines: "Genus of dipterous nemocerous insects, family of Bibionidae; Slender 

 " flies, vernacularly called Biting Gnats". Short antennae with eleven 

 "articulations, palpi with four joints, the last being long; no ocelh. The 

 " females only are blood-suckers. Simulia Columbaschesis are found in 

 " Hungary, where it attacks in clouds the herds of oxen (Clans) ; simulia 

 " pertinax, ornatis, Southern America. Fossil sinmlia are found in the Weal- 

 " den formation {Simulia humida)." 



At Page 5641, 2nd column of volume Vllth of "The Century Dictionary 

 and Encyclopedia" published in 1889, we find the following lines relating to 

 the brulot: 



" Sitmdium. — An important genus of biting gnats of the family Simuliidae. 

 " They are small, hump-backed gnats, of a grey or blackish color, with broad 



