2674 Yorkshire Naturalists' Club. 



December 12, 1849. — Georgk Busk, Esq., President, in the chair. 



A paper by Cornelius Varley, Esq., entitled " Microscopical Observations of a 

 Malady incident to many common House Flies," was read. It is by no means un- 

 common to see flies attached to the glass of windows and other objects by the pro- 

 boscis ; the glass in their vicinity appearing, at the same time, dim, or as though it 

 had been ground. This appearing somewhat remarkable, Mr. Varley was induced to 

 devote some attention in order to ascertain if possible its cause. He considers it to 

 be occasioned by a peculiar disease which first shows itself at the end of the proboscis, 

 which becomes moist and glutinous ; and the fly, touching the glass with it, becomes 

 fixed, and shortly after dies. After a short period, a kind of efflorescence appears 

 upon the abdomen of the fly, which is rapidly followed by the evolution of the matter 

 which dims the glass. By careful watching, Mr. Varley was able to obtain the flies 

 immediately after their having fixed themselves and died, as before mentioned ; and 

 upon examining them under the microscope, he found that for about half an hour 

 there was no perceptible change, but after that period the divisions between the scales 

 of the abdomen began to put on a white appearance, due to the production of myriads 

 of round-headed cylinders, which after a short time became elongated, their tops be- 

 gan to swell and become pointed, there being also a constriction at about one-eighth 

 of the whole length from the top, giving the appearance of a short neck, within which 

 there seemed to be a kind of diaphragm. Another of these diaphragms appeared at 

 some distance below, and the intermediate space was filled with granular matter. 

 The circulation was seen going on rapidly within the head. After a short time these 

 heads were forcibly driven off in all directions. They appear to be very glutinous, 

 and adhere to whatever they touch ; and the dimness of the glass, before mentioned, 

 is due to a vast number of these objects being projected against it. This plant is 

 produced so rapidly, that no more than three hours elapsed between the death of the 

 fly and its coming to maturity. By immersing the fly in water, Mr. Varley found 

 that the mode of growth of the fungus was altered, the heads being no longer pro- 

 duced, but the whole plant became long, crooked and filamentous. — /. W. 



Yorkshire Naturalists'' Club. 



November 7, 1849. — 0. A. Moobe, Esq., in the chair. 



The following gentlemen were, on the recommendation of the committee, elected 

 honorary corresponding members : Messrs. Henry Denny, of Leeds ; Henry Baines, 

 of York ; and William C. Williamson, of Manchester. 



Dr Morris read to the club a resolution passed by the council of the Yorkshire 

 Philosophical Society, and which had recently been communicated to him, expressing 

 the council's gratification at the formation of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Club, and as- 

 suring the members of its hearty co-operation in their laudable objects. Much grati- 

 fication was expressed by the members of the club at the very satisfactory and kind 

 feeling exhibited in the resolution. 



Mr. Graham reported the occurrence in Yorkshire of the following rare birds : — 

 The ash-coloured harrier (Circus cineraceus) near Escrick, about the loth of October. 

 The marsh harrier (Circus rufus), early in October, at Wassand. The peregrine 

 falcon (Falco peregrinus) was sent to him in the flesh yesterday, having been obtained 



