5214 Insects. 



Mosses. I might lengthen this list, but will conclude it with Mr. Buxton's new 

 Chilo of last year: see ' Annual ' for 1856. 



I might say a little about the Phycida?, but as that might bring my own name in, 

 I forbear ; the same remarks apply to the Tineidae, but if our friends doubt the length 

 of the list I could produce of what the Lancashire entomologists have done in this 

 family, let them say so, and I will produce a list so long that they will never again 

 say we do not look for species down here before they have been found elsewhere, and 

 will be bound to grant that we have some right to " brag," in return for which, we will 

 admit we are " precious like Yankees," that is " go-ahead chaps,'' but must submit 

 that in our "brag" there is very little I. 0. W. In conclusion, I respectfully call the 

 attention of the readers of the ' Zoologist' and the k Intelligencer ' to the following old 

 saw, — 



" Where there is smoke there is fire." 



— C. S. Gregson ; Edge Lane, Stanley, near Liverpool, July 19, 1856. 



Singular effect of Fascination on a Fly. — On my arrival at Nagpur, in Central 

 India, in 1847, I requested that the first scorpion discovered in the house might be 

 allowed to live for a few minutes, that I might have an opportunity of observing its 

 form and movements. In that part of India, one has rarely to wait long for such a 

 visitant, and on an early evening my colleague, the Rev. Mr. Hislop, announced that 

 there was a scorpion on the wall. A lamp was set down on the floor, and we took con- 

 venient stations for noting what might pass. Just then a large fly, of the genus 

 Musca, made its appearance, and soon became aware of the presence of the scorpion. 

 A strange fury seemed to seize it, irresistably impelling it to an insane attack on the 

 terrible occupant of the wall : it flew at it with all the little force it could muster, the 

 scorpion meanwhile stretching out its lobster-like claw to catch it as it came. At the 

 first charge, the fly rebounded from the crustaceous integument of its adversary, having 

 done no more damage than if a child were to apply its hand to the well-mailed body 

 of a cuirassier. It seemed amazed at its own audacity ; and, in a state of great appa- 

 rent agitation wheeled round, and taking precipitately to flight, soon put two or three 

 yards of safe space between itself and its formidable but wingless foe. We now for- 

 cibly hoped " the better part of valour" might be allowed to prevail. But no! the 

 tiny creature stood — it ventured to look — there glared still in view of the malignant 

 form — what could the poor animal do but make a second brilliant onset, in which it 

 again eluded the out-stretched claw of its enemy, and, as before, was successful 

 in effecting a retreat? "Surely," we mused, "no further knight-errantry will be 

 attempted — the most exacting would consider this enough." But we were mistaken. 

 Again and again did the fly return to the combat, till in an unguarded moment it flew 

 exactly into the open claw, which closing, rendered escape impossible. The gene- 

 rosity of a Mouravicff was scarcely to be looked for in the scorpion, which, as will be 

 readily believed, lost no time in devouring its gallant captive. Possibly the fly may 

 have been partly dazzled by the glare of the lamp. But undoubtedly it was in the 

 main fascination, induced by the sight of the dread figure on the wall, that impelled 

 it to begin the unequal contest, which could terminate only in the loss of its life. — 

 Robert Hunter; Edinburgh, June, 1856. 



Capture of Hydroporus melanarius in Cumberland. — Two days dredging in the 

 mossy holes of a moor, near Lanercost, have produced me a pair of the very rare Hy- 

 droporus melanarius, Sturm. — Thomas John Bold ; Long Benton, Ncuxasile-un-Tyuc, 

 July 21, 1856. 



