1044 Insects. 



two specimens, but the Lymnaeum in some abundance. Mr. Dawson is engaged in a 

 careful examination of the coast, with a view of ascertaining its productions, as far as 

 relates to Coleoptera ; and he has promised to hand me an account of the results, for 

 publication in 4 The Zoologist.' — Edward Newman. 



British Dragon-flies. M. Selys, author of a monograph on the Libellulites of Eu- 

 rope, is now in London, engaged in examining the cabinets of the London collectors, 

 for the purpose of correctly ascertaining under what names the various species of Li- 

 bellula have been described by British entomologists, prior to the publication of a se- 

 cond edition of his work. In prosecuting his researches, he has found species hitherto 

 unnoticed as British, but which have been characterized on the continent : and has 

 detected many very important errors in nomenclature. As illustrations may be men- 

 tioned Libellula vulgata and L. rubicunda of our cabinets, which he asserts are distinct 

 from L. vulgata and L. rubicunda of Linneus, but still are described species, the 

 former being L. striolata of Charpentier, and the latter L. dubia of Vanderlinden. 

 Sympetrum rufostigma, described by myself in the 'Entomological Magazine,' and sub- 

 sequently by M. Selys under the name of L. Rceselii, he considers identical with L. san- 

 guinea, described by Muller in the ' Nova Acta Nat. Cur.' for the year 1767, vol. iii. 

 p. 122. If these views prove correct, the names of all these species must necessarily be 

 changed. I hope to receive M. Selys' work as soon as it appears, and purpose trans- 

 lating and reprinting his descriptions, synonyms and observations, so far as they relate 

 to British species, incorporating any observations of my own that may appear needful. 

 We have long wanted a monograph of these highly beautiful insects; and although I 

 have often made the attempt in years that are past, I have never possessed the means 

 of making anything approaching to a complete descriptive list of our species. ' The 

 Zoologist ' seems to offer a more suitable medium for such a monograph than any we 

 have hitherto possessed, since no other magazine has been so extensively circulated 

 among our entomologists. I trust that my subscribers will assist me in the projected 

 undertaking, by the loan of specimens and the record of localities. — Id. 



Curious Fact relating to the House-fly. Perhaps the following observation may 

 throw some light on the curious fact related of the house-fly (Zool. 948). This morn- 

 ing, on going to a window, I observed a house-fly on the outside of the glass, with a 

 drop of yellowish fluid, about half the size of its head, attached to its proboscis. I im- 

 mediately procured a pocket lens, and with it watched the whole of the proceeding. 

 In a short time the trunk was partly protruded, and the drop pretty rapidly absorbed : 

 in a few seconds the proboscis was withdrawn and the drop reappeared, but not to the 

 same size. This was repeated four times, at the first and last the drop was larger 

 than at the intermediate times. I noticed a quivering motion of the proboscis occa- 

 sionally. Immediately on absorbing the drop the fourth time, the insect flew away. 

 The drop was only visible when the trunk was retracted, and when it was protruded 

 the drop entirely disappeared. In answer to the observations at p. 948, I should say 

 that from the manner in which the drop reflected the light, and its colour, that it was 

 a real drop of fluid, and not a bubble ; especially as I observed one or two black par- 

 ticles floating about in it. As to the health of the fly, it is difficult to judge ; but as 

 it flew away briskly, I should say it was not suffering from any very severe indisposi- 

 tion. It took one or two quick short steps while the operation was going on. There 

 is perhaps no insect that may be so readily observed, and of which so little is known, 

 as the common fly ; if, therefore, the above should be deemed worth inserting, it would 

 give me great pleasure to be able to contribute my mite to your instructive pages. I 



