THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 323 



with some substance during hybernation, which had chemi- 

 cally altered the coloration. Mr. Janson said he had noticed 

 that yellow insects killed by cyanide of potassium became 

 red. Mr. Cowan said the individual exhibited had been 

 killed by chloroform, and, moreover, it was in precisely the 

 same condition when captured. 



Shower of Insects at Bath. — Mr. Lewis, Mr. M'Lachlan 

 and other Members brought before the notice of the meeting 

 paragraphs that had been going the round of the newspapers 

 concerning a phenomenon observed apparently on two recent 

 occasions at Bath ; it appearing that after violent storms the 

 ground was covered with some creatures, variously described 

 as Annelides and insects, which had baffled the knowledge 

 possessed by the "scientific men" of that city. Prof West- 

 wood thought the creatures were probably Branchypus 

 stagnalis, a large fresh-water entomostracon. 



[It will be seen by a reference to a note (see page 313) 

 appended to one of the numerous communications addressed 

 to the 'Entomologist' on this subject, that I have ventured to 

 express an opinion on a matter that "has baffled the 

 knowledge of the scientific men of Bath," an opinion which 

 is also at variance with Prof Westwood's judgment that these 

 minute worms were "a large freshwater entomostracon." — 

 Edward Netvman.] 



Galls on Pteris aquilina. — Mr. Miiller communicated the 

 following note on a gall found on Pteris aquilina : — " In 

 March, 1869, Mr. Rothney placed in my hands a chip-box 

 containing a desiccated excrescence of about the size of a 

 very large pea, and some Cynipideous insects, as well as two 

 specimens of a Callimome. Mr. Bothney informed me at the 

 same time that he had found this excrescence oYi the common 

 bracken (Pteris aquilina) at Shirley. The excrescence was 

 bleached to a straw-colour, but its condition prevented my 

 being able to form a correct opinion as to the plant from 

 which it was taken ; and besides, apart a very doubtful case, 

 I then knew of /zo gall on any fern. On dissecting the gall I 

 found it composed of an accumulation of small larval cells, 

 some of them still containing dead specimeus of the maker. 

 The insects being in a very biid condition, I did not think it 

 worth my while to examine them, so I carded them with the 

 excrescence and put them aside. Having lately had occasion 



