2IO ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [October, 



We know of no such article. If any reader of the News can supply 

 the information Mr. Fischer desires, no doubt he would be grateful. — Ed. 



On July 3, 1892, the Entomological Society of Belgium tendered a ban- 

 quet to the veteran entomologist, the Baron Edmond de Selys-Long- 

 champs, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of 

 " La Faune de la Belgique," to which M. de Selys had contributed. M. 

 "Giron delivered a congratulatory address to the honored guest, referring 

 to the chief events, scientific and political, of the latter's life. Baron de 

 Selys is one of the oldest of living entomologists, having been born in 

 Paris, May 25, 1813. The long and continuous list of his entomological 

 publications begins with 183 1, and extends into the present year. 



The steamer " Kite" (September 19th) is on its way from Greenland to 

 Philadelphia, bringing the members of the Peary Expedition and also- the 

 Academy Relief Expedition. It is stated that rich collections have been 

 made of the flora, fauna and ethnology of North Greenland. It made 

 almost a complete collection of water and land mammals, both in skins 

 and skeletons; a large variety of birds and submarine animal life, a rare 

 collection of flowering plants, mosses, lichens and insects, and of eth- 

 nological specimens. These collections become the property of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and the Entomological 

 Section will come into possession of the insects. 



In the preface to the just published first volume of his Catalogue of 

 Lepidoptera-Heterocera, referred to in our Literature Department, Mr. 

 W. F. Kirby says: "The MS. of the whole of the remainder of the pres- 

 ent work has been in an advanced state for some years, and it is proposed 

 to issue it as follows: ' Vol. I. Sphinges and Bombyces (now published); 

 Vol. II. Noctuse; Vol. III. Geometrae and Pyrales; Vol. IV. Micro-Le- 

 pidoptera; Vol. V. Appendix, to date, and complete indices of both 

 generic and specific names to the whole. The first four volumes will con- 

 tain only an Index of Genera. It is perhaps only right to add that the 

 possibility of completing the work must in part depend on the support 

 accorded by entomologists to the successive volumes as they appear.' " 

 The evident value of such catalogues will undoubtedly influence American 

 entomologists to contribute their share of that support to which Mr. Kirby 

 refers. 



Cholera and Flies. — It may not be amiss to call the attention of the 

 public to the great danger from house flies as agents in spreading the con- 

 tagion should there be an epidemic of cholera. I have repeatedly ob- 

 served that these insects will ride for a number of miles on street cars, 

 and doubtless alsaupon other vehicles of transit, such as railway coaches, 

 etc., though I have never made observations upon any conveyances but 

 the ordinary tram or horse car. Suppose a case: imagine a cholera vic- 

 tim upon the street or anywhere else vomiting; the flies present are at- 

 tracted and drink until sated, and have their feet and mouth parts wetted 

 with the vomit containing the germs. They then, perhaps, fly out into 

 the street, take a place on a horse car, ride several miles, dismount, fly 



