( 14 ) 
f 
examination they appeared to me to be nineteen in 
number, that is 2 plus 17. The colour altered with 
change of condition of the specimen, hut might through¬ 
out be called brown. 
The above account refers to the condition of the 
specimen whilst still not quite dead, about eighteen hours 
after the first observation. Twenty-four hours later the 
raspberry tints were changing to shades of brown or 
yellowish brown, and the black velvety patches at the 
sides of the abdomen were scarcely distinguishable from 
the transverse bands. The changes in colour continued, 
till on the third day from the first observation the rasp¬ 
berry tints had changed to dark brown above, lighter or 
yellowish brown below, the terminal segments and the 
ovipositor still retaining the original tint of yellowish 
brown. 
From minute examination of structure and comparison 
with the descriptions and figures in the works cited, 
the imago appeared to me to be without doubt the 
Cecidomyia destructor of Say, commonly known as the 
“ Hessian Fly.” 
In an attack of this importance, regarding which it is 
yet to be seen whether it will settle in the land as a 
national scourge, or be a temporary infliction from 
causes not yet made out, I in no way desired to rest 
solely on my own opinion. I therefore submitted 
infested straw to Professor Westwood, Life-President of 
the Eoyal Entomological Society, who is personally 
acquainted with the insect in the “ flax-seed ” as well as 
in the perfect state, and also forwarded others to Prof. 
W. Saunders, President of the Entomological Society of 
Ontario, Canada, a well-known and most sound authority 
in the matter, and received from both the above referees 
the confirmation that the specimens sent were without 
doubt the pupae of the true Hessian Fly. On the 
appearance of the imago I submitted it for special 
examination to Mr. E. H. Meade, of Manningham, 
Bradford, whose researches on the Diptera are too well 
known to require any comment, and had from him the 
