ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. • 717 



species, 20 of which are only " fcroglophilous," while 41 are more or less 

 adapted (" troglobies ") to the darkness. Thirty of these 41 species- are 

 Silphidse. From 18 Algerian caves he records 2G species — almost the 

 same proportion as in France. Of these all are troglophilous except 

 3 Staphylinids, 1 of which is blind, while 2 have eyes reduced in size. 

 The Silphidae, so abundantly represented in Europe, do not occur in the 

 Algerian caves. The Algerian cave-fauna seems to be young compared 

 with that in France. 



Genus Eleodes.* — Frank E. Blaisdell has published a monographic 

 revision of the Coleoptera belonging to the Tenebrionid Tribe Eleodiini, 

 so far as represented in the United States, Lower California, and 

 adjacent islands. This is practically an account of the huge genus 

 Eleodes, which has to be divided into numerous sub-genera. 



Ferments in Larval Trichoptera.f — Xavier Roques finds three fer- 

 ments in the larvae of Limnophilus flavicornis — an amylose, an invertine, 

 and a proteolytic ferment. The digestive activity is at its maximum in the 

 larva during the period which precedes the pupa stage ; it diminishes 

 considerably, without disappearing, during the nymph stage. But the 

 invertine, unlike the other two ferments, which are reduced to a 

 minimum, goes on increasing. 



Variations in Oxidising' Ferment in Metamorphosis of Caddis- 

 Fly. | — Xavier Roques finds that the oxydase in the lymph and fatty 

 body of the larva of Limnophilus flavicornis, which is very abundant in 

 the later part of larval life, decreases very rapidly at the beginning of 

 the nymphal period. In the course of this period it exhibits a renewed 

 activity, which coincides with phenomena of pigmentation. In the last 

 hours of the nymphal period it decreases again, and there seems to be 

 none in the adult. 



Taxonomic Characters of Gryllus.§ — F. E. Lutz publishes a paper 

 in which he applies biometrical methods to the study of the variations 

 and correlations of certain taxonomic characters of the genus Oryllus. 

 No specific entities exist in the genus which can be demonstrated by any 

 morphological characters thus far studied. " Species " seems to be a 

 human convention of the same sort as " genus." The describing and 

 naming of species in the paper has for its justification convenience of 

 reference. A large amount of correlation exists between the various 

 taxonomic characters, and this correlation is apparent in the genus as a 

 whole, as well as in local samples of it. Local environmental influences 

 have an effect on the taxonomic characters, chiefly, in all probability, on 

 the most marked of these — the length of the ovipositor. Wing-length is 

 markedly dimorphic. Intergrades between the two conditions were not 

 found. Each group fluctuates about its mean to an extent and in a 

 manner almost similar to the fluctuation of the monomorphic characters. 

 The dimorphism of the wing affects, through correlation, the size of the 

 other organs, especially the tegmina. The organs of the short-winged 



* U.S. Nat. Museum, Bull. 63 (1909) pp. 1-524 (13 pis.). 



t Comptes Rendus, cxlix. (1909) pp. 319-21. ' J Tom. cit., pp. 418-19. 



§ Publications Caruegie Inst. Washington, No. 101 (1908) 62 pp. 



