30 



vated plant, and that this darnag^e to rye is to a great extent abnormal. 

 ^J'he very thoroughness with which Mr. Dyer carried out our recommenda- 

 tions probably accounts for the subsequent non-appearance of the insect. 



SOME CASES OF AUSTRALIAN SPIDER BITES. 



The following cases have been kindly collected and sent to us by Mr. 

 C. O. Montrose, of Melbourne : 



A Rutherglen exchange states that a lad named Thomas Johnson, 18 years of age, 

 was bitten by a spider last Tuesday morning while putting his hand into a bag for 

 fowl feed. The insect had, according to the lad's account, apparently been knocked 

 down with his web when he moved the bag. It seems to have got underneath his 

 shirt at the neck and dropped down to the waist, where it inflicted two bites. He did 

 not notice these much. But it then got into his sleeve and bit him on the elbow. 

 Most excruciating pain and sickness immediately succeeded, and he pluckily pro- 

 cured a horse and rode into Covowa, occupying only two and one half hours in cover- 

 ing 30 miles. On arrival at the Newmarket Hotel he was foaming at the mouth and 

 most violent in his behavior. He offered the most strenuous resistance to being se- 

 cured, but was at length overcome. Dr. Lang was called in and for a time the 

 patient's chances hung in the balance between life and death, but the treatment ulti- 

 mately prevailed, and he was moving about on Wednesday. — Melbourne Herald, Jan- 

 uary 11, 1890. 



Another case of serious results from the bite of a spider is reported. Mr. Joseph 

 Chicken, proprietor of the Netherby Mills, Corowa, was bitten by a spider near the 

 top of the thigh. He thought little of the occurrence at the time, and mounting his 

 horse commenced to ride out of town. He had not proceeded far, however, when 

 the pain arising from the slight wound became very severe, indeed, and after endur- 

 ing it for a few hours Mr. Chicken had to return home. He passed a terrible night. 

 The pain extended to the extremities, and the patient was in a most feverish state. 

 Under medical care he is now recovering. — Melbourne Herald, January 18, 1890. 



Mr. M'Douald, of Corowa, manager of Goonambil, was last week bitten by a 

 spider of the red and black species, and for two days suftered severely. Mr. W. 

 Squires and Mr. Geo. Parkin have both been laid up suff"ering from the same cause. 

 Other cases are reported from different parts of this district. — Town and Country Journal 

 (Sydney), February 8, 1890. 



Mr. Giles, one of our farmers here, was bitten by a black spider in the palm of the 

 right hand. The bite assumed such bad poisonous symptoms that he had to seek 

 medical aid. We are glad to say that he is now getting right again. — Minyih, Vic- 

 toria. 



THE NEW VINE PEST IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



We hav^e noticed many accounts in the Australian newsiiapersof the 

 occurrence in great numbers of the new pest to the vine, mentioned on 

 p. 381 of vol. ii. It has been determined by Mr. Skuse as a species of 

 Phytocoris^ and extensive experiments have been made under the dir- 

 ection of the Government entomologist, Mr. French, with the result 

 that benzole strong proved to be the most efficacious remedy. An 

 emulsion of this substance has not been made, but one part is mixed 

 with a similar quantity of water and violently agitated to keep mixed. 



