260 



is only commencing to appear on the young wheat, these Smynthurus 

 might destroy many spores, but we have observed them enough to leave 

 no doubt that they may transfer spores from one plant to another in the 

 manner indicated.— [F. M. Webster, November 30, 1889. 



INSECTICIDE LITIGATION. 



We notice in The San Francisco Morning Call of November 22 a state- 

 ment to the effect that a suit has been commenced in the superior court, 

 by John S. Finch, owner of a ranch at Hayward's, Alameda County, 

 against the Ongerth Grafting Compound Company, to recover $16,500 

 for losses sustained by reason of the application of the defendant's liquid 

 compound to 106 fruit trees in order to destroy vermin and fungoid 

 growths, whereby the trees were injured and killed. The compound 

 cost Mr. Finch $10. Without any knowledge of the merits of this par- 

 ticular case we would state that we are glad to see the matter brought 

 co trial in order that the responsibilities of the proprietors of patent 

 insecticides may be legally defined. 



NORTH EUROPEAN DRAGON FLIES. 



We have just received from Dr. Filip Trybom a short paper, entitled 

 u Trollslandor (Odonater) Insamlade under JSvenska Expeditionen till 

 Jenisei 1876," in which he describes eight species of Dragon Flies col- 

 lected mainly in North Sweden, and some as far north as 69° 25'. Four 

 of the species are new. 



A CORRECTION. 



Professor Forbes calls our attention to the fact that paragraph 6, on 

 page 182, of the December number of Insect Life, should read as fol- 

 lows: 



Mr. Forbes expressed himself as of the opinion that, from our present knowledge 

 of the use of the arsenites as insecticides, they can not be recommended for use on 

 the peach. 



A PARASITE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FLOUR-MOTH. 



On page 170 of the last number of Insect Life in our article upon 

 this destructive grain pest we mentioned the fact that a small Ichneumon 

 Fly destroyed this insect in the warehouses in the east end of London 

 in the summer of 1887. At the time of writing this article we wrote to 

 Mr. J. B. Bridginan, of Norwich, England, to ascertain whether he knew 

 of this parasite, and have just received a reply in which he states that 

 although he was not familiar with this instance he has since received 

 specimens of Ghremylus rubiginosus reared from Uphestia kilhniella. 



EFFECTS OF THE OPEN WINTER. 



Two interesting effects of the mild weather which we have been having 

 have been brought to our attention recently. December 20 Mr. G. A. 

 Frierson, of Frierson's Mill, La., sent us specimens of the Turkey Gnat 



