ZOOLOGY. 123 



A goodly sized flat green bug {Rhaphigaster prasinus) is 

 very common during the hot months of summer, and is a 

 source of great annoyance to those affected with a delicate 

 sense of smell, for in common with others of its race, it 

 emits a peculiar odour when touched. It usually flies in at 

 the open windows during dumer and darts right at the 

 candles, which, being surrounded by glass shades, cause the 

 intruder to faU stunned on the table cloth, from which it is 

 speedily removed by the attendants. We first became 

 acquainted with the species at the ArtUlery Mess at St. 

 George's, where a specimen popped down close to us at 

 table, and not having seen one previously, we were on the 

 point of securing him as " a rare specimen '' for our collec- 

 tion, when a sharp-eyed mess waiter anti-entomologically 

 inclined, removed him from the table. A very small species 

 (JB. cydnus) is by no means common. 



DIPTERA (Flies, Gnats, &c.) 



As in other parts of the globe, and equally common in 

 the marshy tracts, the well-known and troublesome mos- 

 quito (Culex) finds a home even in the distant and small 

 ocean-surrounded islets of Bermuda. Its bite, which is just 

 as sharp in those Islands as elsewhere, is only felt to perfec- 

 tion when looking out for ducks at the edge of a marsh, at 

 dawn of day ; we would defy the most ardent sportsman to 

 act up to the weU-known instructions of laying " stUl as a 

 mouse," when some dozens of these blood-thirsty fiends are 

 stabbing him in every unprotected part. 



Mr. Hurdis considers there are two, if not three, distinct 

 species, for he thus writes : — " The plumed mosquito, I am 

 quite positive, is distinct from the common gentleman, 



