56 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Ranatra quadridentata Stal. A single specimen dipped up in a net from 

 a stagnant pool in August. 



Notonecta americana Fab. 



fabricii Fieb. Under drift or in water along the edge of St. 

 Joseph river, in April. A pair in coitu, April 27, cling 

 ing to a water plant. I have also taken a variety of this 

 species at Lawrence, Kansas. Not in Uhler list. 



Plea striola Fieb. On submerged wood in St. Joseph river, April 27. 



Corisa calva Say. In pond in April. In June in a barrel of water a long 

 way from creek or pond. 



Mr. Schwarz stated that the Heteroptera named were all 

 widely distributed forms, and did not present any local 

 feature, as would have been the case in a list of any 

 other order of insects of equal length. The presence of the 

 Corimekzna in an ant's nest, mentioned by Mr. Townsend, was 

 stated by Prof. Riley to be without doubt an accidental occur 

 rence. Mr. Townsend said that the specimen was taken from 

 the rubbish on the top of the nest. 



Mr. Dodge read a paper entitled " Artificial Silk," in which 

 he described, as illustrated at the late Paris Exposition, the 

 Count de Chardonnet's process of producing from cellulose an 

 artificial fibre resembling in all its characters and uses the true 

 silk of Bombyx mori. The cellulose experimented with was 

 principally of cotton and the pulp of soft woods. The process 

 of dissolving and converting the cellulose into a collodion, 

 and producing from this fine threads closely resembling silk, 

 was described, and the capillary tube, by means of which the 

 threads are drawn out, was figured. Mr. Dodge said that the 

 elasticity of the artificial silk is claimed to equal that of the 

 natural silk, and in lustre and brilliancy the former is said to 

 surpass the latter. It is also claimed that it can be produced 

 at from one-third to one-fourth the cost of the natural silk. A 

 sample of the silk was exhibited. 



Prof. Riley said that this artificial silk attracted great atten 

 tion at the Exposition, but was generally thought to be a 



