130 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



emerge, with no trace of either eggs or egg-case. The signifi 

 cance of this exceptional fact is that the extrusion of the eggs 

 in a compact ootheca is supposed to be one of the distinguish 

 ing features of the family BlaHidce, and such cases serve to 

 show how difficult it is to lay down any rule in reference to 

 the characteristics of any group that may not involve excep 

 tions. So far as other family characteristics are concerned 

 there is nothing peculiar in this species of Panchlora. It is a 

 rather soft-bodied species, with ample wings. I would call 

 attention, however, to the fact that the young have either lost 

 or never had the green color of the parent. They are pale 

 brownish, and are further peculiar in that the body broadens 

 posteriorly, the abdominal joints being strongly contracted 

 and telescoped into each other the eighth and ninth so 

 strongly drawn into the seventh as to give the abdomen an 

 unnatural, foreshortened, truncated appearance. Whether 

 this feature is due to the alcohol, or is normal, it is impossible 

 to say ; but there is no evidence of any other portion of the 

 body having shrunken or contracted on account of the pre 

 servative liquid. 



Prof. Riley gave an account also of his additional study of 

 Platypsyllus. He said that since his former communication he 

 had been particularly anxious to secure other specimens of the 

 ultimate larvae and also specimens of the pupa of this insect, 

 and had had two or three persons at work in different places 

 with this end in view. In all some twenty Beavers had been 

 examined, and additional larvae and adults had been secured, 

 but no pupae. He had, however, been able to add quite a list 

 of insects, etc., which are associated with the Beaver, either 

 accidentally or as parasites or guests. These are : a Mallo- 

 phagan of peculiar form (Trickodectcs near crassus Drury) ; 

 four genera of mites ; seventeen species of Coleoptera (Staphy- 

 linidae, Histeridae, Silphidae and Elateridae), none of which 

 are supposed to be at all parasitic ; a Julus and a Geophilus ; 

 Bibionid and Culicid larvae; a Cricket ; a Tettix; three spiders ; 

 a Trombidium and a small roach. 



Mr. Schwarz asked how the insects associated with the 

 Beaver had been found, many of the forms mentioned being 

 such as would occur in masses of rubbish, dry leaves, etc. 



