i^\^.] 227 



to the presence or absence of gregarine parasites. An equal number (23) of 

 " low" and " high" males, from a large batch obtained in the Scilly Isles, were 

 carefully examined, and it was found that about half the specimens of each 

 description were free from parasites. The remaining half in each case were 

 infected by the gregarine Clepsychina ovata, ihe average number of gregarines 

 per individual being 29 in the case of the " low " males and 20 in the case of 

 the " high " males. The author concludes that " the evidence so far obtained 

 is that the dimorphism of the forcipes in F. auricularin J is not a result of or 

 influenced by gregarine infection." Other parasites, both animal and vegetable, 

 are known to attack earwigs, and affect the health of their hosts in a greater 

 or lesser degree. It has been a subject of debate for many years as to whether 

 earwigs actually feed upon the plants which they frequent, or whether they 

 merely prey upon the other insects which are found there. While a con- 

 siderable body of evidence exists to show that earwigs occasionally, or even 

 habitually, select animal food, Mr. Brindley has demonstrated, by experiments 

 with adult individuals kept in captivitj^, that the}^ can be maintained in health 

 for several weeks, without any animal food beyond that accidentally afforded by 

 the decease of one of their number. Three different kinds of vegetable food, 

 taken haphazard, were offered at a time, and it was noticed that a decided 

 preference was manifested for the leaves of vegetable-marrow, beet, and 

 cabbage, tlie flowers of Anckusa and Oenothera, and uuskinned plums. 



Mr. Rrindley concludes his paper with a very useful summary of what has 

 been published concerning the capture of earwigs by birds. Domestic fowls 

 always eat earwigs readily, but not more than 14 species of wild birds have 

 been recorded as feeding upon them, and then only very sparingly in most 

 instances. This list is likely to be extended as further observations are made, 

 for certain notoriously insectivorous birds, such as the Blue Tit and the Tree 

 Creeper, are not yet included in it. At the same time, of course, earwigs enjoy 

 more or less protection from their foes by reason of their nocturnal habits, and 

 probably also on account of the well-defined odour which they are known to 

 emit. — Herbert Campion, 58 Ranelagh Road, Ealing, AV, 5 : September, 1918. 



Orthotylus virens Fall. — This bug has occurred abundantly during the 

 present season on Cumwhitton Moss, where the original British specimens 

 were found in 1917 {vide Ent. Mo. Mag. 1917, p. 251), and some care was 

 taken to ascertain the particular species of sallow to which it was attached, this 

 proving to be Salix j^entandra — the Bay Willow. Noting the same plant on 

 Hayton Moss, a few miles away, Mr. lloutledge looked out for the bug and at 

 once found it freely. The Bay Willow, according to Bentham's " Handbook 

 to the British Flora," is found chiefly in northern England and southern 

 Scotland, which may account for O. riren.s not having been met with by our 

 southern liemipterists. — F. H. Day, 26 Currock Terrace, Carlisle : Sejyt. 7th, 

 1918. 



TnK South London Entomological and Natural History Society : 

 August 8th, 1918. — Mr. Stanley Edwards, F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Ashdown exhibited a variable series of Malacosoma neustria, and a 

 dark Nutodotita dromedariuf^, v, perfusca from the New Forest. Mr. Neave> 



