OF WASHINGTON. 71 



were determined, May 5, as probably those of a pyralid, hav- 

 ing very much the appearance of the larvae of Asopia. Be- 

 sides these larvae there was a number of specimens of a 

 beetle, Tenebrio molitor L., and also a number of cockroaches. 

 These were all found alive and among decaying leaves in the 

 bottom of the nest just beneath the lining. The crow's nest 

 was in a tree, about 30 feet from the ground, and contained at 

 the time six eggs, showing that it was occupied. While the 

 Tenebrio and the cockroaches might have been attracted to the 

 nest, possibly by a broken egg, it is somewhat difficult to 

 account for the presence of the larvae. 



Mr. Busck stated that tineid larvse are often found in nests, 

 where they probably feed on the excrement. Pyralids might 

 have the same habit. Mr. Barber said there was quite a fauna 

 which was peculiar to bird's nests. He collected thirty or forty 

 species of beetles from one buzzard's nest. Some of them 

 he had found nowhere else. Mr. Schwarz said that a number 

 of Coleoptera were peculiar to birds' nests. 



Dr. Howard exhibited an interesting postcard which he 

 received from Prof. Antonio Berlese, of Florence, Italy. The 

 picture on the card, evidently a photograph of a microscope 

 slide, shows a nearly full-developed specimen of the chalcidid 

 parasite Prospalta berlesei How., which is about ready to 

 emerge from its host, Diaspis pentagona Targ. (Coccidae). 

 Doctor Howard said that the photograph was very interesting, 

 because it indicated that this American parasite is becoming 

 established in Italy, where it was first reared by Professor 

 Berlese from material sent from America. At that time Pro- 

 fessor Berlese recognized it as a new species, and returned it 

 to Doctor Howard, who described it. 



Mr. Sanders said that another interesting point is, that while 

 the scale is not at all injurious to mulberry in this country, it 

 is so destructive to the mulberry in Italy that it threatens the 

 silk industry. 



Mr. Schwarz stated that last fall members of the Wash- 

 ington Biologists' Field Club made a practical test of Professor 

 Berlese's sifting machine, a description of which has been 



