9 o NOTES AND COMMENTS [august 



says, " that since a stink-bug nauseates our stomach and irritates our 

 tongue, it will produce a like effect on a crow." There appears to be 

 need of a little more avian psychology, as he quaintly phrases it. 

 " Numerous species of bugs aud beetles which, in addition to being 

 protectively coloured, possess ill-smelling, bad-tasting, and irritating- 

 secretions, would naturally be supposed by some writers to be avoided 

 generally by nearly all birds, but they are habitually eaten by many 

 birds of the eastern United States." 



The conclusion seems to be, as we have said before in these 

 columns, that adaptations are by no means so perfect as is often 

 supposed. Protective adaptations may lessen the chances of death, 

 and thus be of much evolutionary importance without being in any 

 wise perfect. But it is fairer to let the author sum up : — " The alleged 

 protective coloration is not the all -important factor in securing an 

 insect from extermination, as some earlier naturalists have supposed; 

 there are other equally important factors that demand consideration." 



An Entomological Exhibition. 



Professor Bouvier, of the Museum d'histoire naturelle of Paris, 

 announces that a great entomological exhibition is being arranged for 

 in the laboratory of his department, and asks for co-operation. The 

 preliminary prospectus, given in La Feuille des Jcuncs Naturalises, 

 July 1899, is very attractive, and includes the following divisions : — 

 Bees and apiculture ; giant arthropods and giant nests ; wasps' nests ; 

 classification and anatomy, with especial reference to flight and stridu- 

 lation ; reproduction and development; adaptations — defensive, such 

 as mimicry and protective coloration — offensive, such as weapons — 

 and in relation to change of habitat ; commensals and parasites ; social 

 insects ; bizarre forms ; domestic forms ; useful and injurious insects, 

 and so on. It is a big undertaking, which well deserves the co-opera- 

 tion asked for. To see such an exhibition will be an entomological 

 education in itself. 



At Last ? 



A paper by Professor L. En-era, entitled " Heredite d'un caractere 

 acquis chez un champignon pluricellulaire " (Bull. Acad. Boy. Belgique, 

 1899, pp. 81-102), cannot but arouse the interest of evolutionists. 

 Has the long -sought -for instance been found at last ? Is there a 

 modification in regard to which we can look the whole world in the 

 face and say that it is transmitted ? The story will be read with 

 bated breath, as the advertisements of novels say. 



