G3 
season wasted many specimens in obtaining eggs ; while the beauty 
and rarity ol the insect, joined to the singularity of the larva?, 
amply repay any trouble that it may cost. 
In conclusion, allow me to express my hope that some of those 
members who have not yet tried their hand at this, one of the 
most profitable, as it is one of the pleasantest branches of ento- 
mology, niay be induced at least to make a trial of some of my 
favourite Prominents, and that they will not give up in despair, if 
like myself they meet at first with ill luck, since one success will 
atone for several failures, and I suppose that it is only by repeated 
attempts that wo can hope to acejuire the skill reijuisite to ensure a 
fair proportion of profits. 
III. 
ON EMPIbSA MUSCA AND OTHER ^[ICRO-FUNGI. 
By F, Kitton. 
Read September 30th, 1873. 
At the time of year when the more highly organized forms of life 
are fast dying and decaying, the simpler organisms are developed 
in vast profusion. When, in the beautiful Avords of Shelley, 
“ The warm sun is failing, the bleak wind is wailing, 
The bare boughs are sighing, the pale flowers are dying, 
And the year 
On the earth her death-bed, in a shroud of leaves, dead. 
Is lying,” 
then the multitudinous variety of fungi make their appearance, 
“ fottening on decay.” Let but the vigorous health of the plant or 
animal diminish or fiiil, and these vegetable scavengers make their 
appearance, appropriating the vital fluids of the lordly oak or the 
humble blade of grass with equal indifference ; nay, man himself, 
let but disease or physical weakness occur, and minute forms of 
fungi attack the ailing part. Tot example, the ringworm, so common 
