Occasional Notes. 37; 



little affe6led. Probably in the case of mosquitoes a sort 

 of inoculation takes place, after which the poison has 

 little effea. 



In connection with this matter we may mention that 

 when a gnat or other small inse6l gets into the eye, 

 however painful it may be, the instin6live desire to rub 

 it should be carefully avoided. Once we suffered for 

 two days from killing a gnat under one of the eyelids 

 and since then have escaped inconvenience by letting 

 them always crawl out again, which they generally do 

 very quickly or by letting the consequent flow of tears 

 wash them away. 



There is a hairy caterpillar in which the hairs re- 

 semble the sting of a nettle. These are much dreaded, 

 and although the popular notion is undoubtedly ex- 

 aggerated, the effe6l is sufficiently painful to account for 

 their careful avoidance. From the statement of a medical 

 friend who was stung by one or more of these hairs, it 

 appears that there was a numbing effe6l similar to that 

 produced by the mason wasp ; possibly this would cause 

 a bird to drop the creature at once when its mouth was 

 stung. 



« 



Text-books for Botanical Students. — For over twenty 

 years past we have been asked now and again to state 

 where a beginner can find an account of the plants of 

 Guiana so as to be able to recognise them. In the 

 absence of anything like a Flora of the country we have 

 always had some difficulty in answering the question 

 and could only point to our library, or enter into a long 

 explanation. Perhaps a few hints as to the best books 

 may be useful, and if they lead anyone to take up the 



3B 



