185 
es. but none were to be seen; so, knowing that an eacape ^ad ^J-;- 
[ axefully began to exan^ine gaU after gall, when .t soon t--<i -^allt 
■ them were filled with the closely packed cocoons, divided only by wall.. 
of frass intermingled with silken threads to keep the fabnc together, 
of their usual resources, the sagacious creatures had crowded together m 
he most capacious galls, and spinning (against their custom) greganously. 
their own frass as a substitute for earth. 
few perfect insects bred from Mr. Kidd's batch appeared 4-6 weeks a^.r 
their cocoons. They liberated themselves in the usual way. by cutting 
op of the cocoons with their mandibles. ^ , ,, ,, q,i, 
868 I collected a few of these galls near Penge, as late as October the 9th ; 
e were full-fed about the 16th of the same month, but died in their cocoons. 
. it is very likely that the autumnal brood passes the winter in the cocoon 
'the fly appearing in spring. At the present time, the galls in all stages 
atiful in this neighbourhood. -ALBEKT M.lleb, South Norwood, S.E.. 
emler, 1869. 
tne e.a.ninaUon of livino ,alUnidges.-1^e circumstance, that the minute 
of Ceaao^ryia are peculiarly liable to shrivel up. and to change ^hr 
soon after death, particularly if the latter be brought on by artificial and 
lans, necessitates their examination whilst alive, as most of the published 
tions and very properly so, are drawn up from such specimens. 
.t. on the other hand, their great vitality and restlessness present consider- 
stacles to the observer who attempts doing so. _ 
•ter several unsuccessful experiments, I have accidentally hit upon a simple 
.hich allows one to examine these delicate insects closely, whilst alive, and a 
ne time renders them immobile, as far as head, antennae, body, halteres, and 
: e'^'oTg them to the scent of " Eau de Cologne " (and I find that any thing 
er will not do), and, of course, without wetting them at all, they lose after 
minutes the power of moving their limbs ; the wings alone are lifted up and 
to vibrate rapidly, so much so as to become almost mvisiole. 
his state lasts about twenty minutes, during which time every other part is 
.nd Btill, the sexual organs being generally much protruded, a matter of no 
importance in the separation of closely allied, yet distinct species. 
Durinc this partial collapse of vital action, the midges, possessing still all 
xllness of outline and colours of hfe, may be tixrned over and examined cai-e- 
and when the sudden stoppage of the alary vibration indicates that the 
ess end has arrived, the investigation may be terminated by scrutinizmg the 
.tion of the wings, and setting the flies for the collection, in which, however. 
. shrivelled bodies present, as a rule, anything but a good appearance.-In. 
Semasia olscurana, a gall ^ngu^I^n..-There having been some doubt as to the 
tity of the Tortri. bred by Mr. C. W. Dale from oak-apples, as recorded by him 
.e November number, p. 146. we requested that gentleman to allow us to examine 
.hich he obligingly did. It appears to be a small starved example of Sanas^a 
.raHa,Steph.,a somewhat rare species, generally found among undergrowth 
