OF WASHINGTON. 113 
2. Specimens of Pityophthorus mttttttissimttsttnd its galleries, under bark 
of red oak branches, found at Washington the past month. The primary 
galleries closely resemble those of />. querciperda, exhibited at a former 
meeting (see p. 56), i. e., they consist of a very short longitudinal gallery 
which is crossed at its upper end by an extremely long transverse gallery. 
It seems that the larvae do not make any galleries of their own. 
3. Specimens of Otidocephalus Poeyi. This species, hitherto known 
only from Cuba, occurs also on Key West. The Floridian specimens are 
much smaller and darker colored than the Cuban specimens, but are spe- 
cifically not distinct. Gyllonhal, in his description, briefly mentions a re- 
markable character in this species, viz., the presence of a large fovea on 
the upper side of the beak; but Suffrian, in his list of the Rhynchophora 
of Cuba, entirely misinterprets this description and considers the fovea 
as an abnormity. The fact is that this spoon-shaped fovea is a secondary 
male character not recurring in any other described species of the genus. 
4. Specimens of a new Bonvouloiria recently found at Biscayne Bay, 
Fla , the genus being hitherto known only from California and Texas. 
Larvae, pupae, and images were found amongst a blackish mould grow- 
ing under the bark of freshly-burned stumps. The species, when fully 
matured, has the thorax and one spot on each elytron covered with a snow- 
white, mould-like efflorescence. When just hatched the beetle is without 
this efflorescence and remains so for about two days. Then the efflores- 
cence on the thorax rather suddenly makes its appearance and shortly after- 
wards the elytral spots. 
5. Specimens of the Scolytids Phlceotribus liminaris and Hylesinus 
opaculus. Dr. Harris, in his description of the former species (Ins. Inj. 
to Veg., 3d ed., p. 84), states that it occurs also under elm bark. Mr. 
Schwarz said that in his experience Pklceotribus liminaris does not occur 
under elm bark, but that Hylesinus opaculus is rather common under such 
conditions. Both species resemble each other closely, so that, without ex- 
amination of the structural character in the antennae, they can hardly be 
distinguished, and it appears probable, therefore, that Dr. Harris had con- 
founded the two species. 
Mr. Smith read the following paper : 
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON MUSEUM PESTS. 
BY JOHN B. SMITH. 
One of the primary duties of a person in charge of a large collection of 
insects is keeping out Museum pests as the various species that feed on 
the dried insects are generically termed. In a large collection, like that 
of the National Museum, no inconsiderable time is required for that pur- 
pose, as it takes at least two weeks to go through all of the boxes carefully. 
It has been the fashion to recommend as a certain preventative tight 
boxes, and quarantining all specimens before putting into the collection, 
and undoubtedly this is an excellent precaution, saving much future labor. 
