224 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



by the weight of the stone. The damage, is a considerable one, as the 

 whole collection is again to be provided with new labels. A careful 

 research led to the discovery of an insect belonging to the genus Lepisma, 

 which lived in the boxes and cabinets. The old labels of common writing 

 paper were never attacked, therefore it was to be presumed that the finish 

 of the new labels was the attraction to the insects. Indeed, Professor 

 C. L. Jackson found the new labels finished on both sides with starch, and 

 without doubt the starch covering attracted the Lepisma. I was rather 

 puzzled by this fact. It has been known for more than a century that the 

 greatest library pest, Anobium, does not like starch. Therefore it was 

 recommended to use in binding books only such paste as was made of 

 pure starch without meal, of course also with the addition of several drugs 

 of the most vicious odor ; and now a new customer proves to prefer starch 

 to other things. It is, by the way, a queer but very common association 

 of ideas that substances with an unpleasant scent to man should also be 

 unpleasant to insects. But the virtuous hater of Rockfort or Limbourg 

 cheese would directly be disabused by discovering with a common hand 

 lens a lively carnival of bugs in those disgusting dainties. 



The Lepisma destructive to the labels is a true American insect, de- 

 scribed by Professor Packard as L. domestica. It belongs to a small 

 group of insects with the euphonious name Thysanoura, and there are 

 half a dozen species known in the United States. The principal one 

 found in Europe is the Z. saccharina, better known as the Small Blue 

 Silver-fish. This little insect is found in dark places or corners near pro- 

 visions, running very fast, and being so soft that it is crushed by the light- 

 est touch. In Europe it has always been considered, but without proof, 

 as imported from America. It has been known there for more than 200 

 years, but its existence cannot be traced before the discovery of America. 

 The whole body of the insect is covered with very fine iridescent scales, 

 which have been used as a delicate test object for microscopes, and are 

 the cause of its vulgar name. Silver-fish. 



The earliest notice of the small European species is in R. Hooke's 

 Micrographia, a folio, London, 1665. It was printed at the expense of 

 the Royal Society, and is an account of innumerable things examined by 

 the microscope. The book is still respected for the accuracy of the 

 author's observations. Mr. Blades calls it most amazing for its equally 

 frequent blunders. I have reason to suppose that the absurd blundering 



