ZOOLOGY. 353 



Among the Tliysauura, the Lepisma 6aechariiia, which is found iu 

 closets, &c., where provisious are kept, feeds also ou paper, but leaves 

 untouched that which is covered by printiug-iuk. This species was not 

 known till lately to be at all injurious to paper or books. 



Of the Neuroi>tera, the termites are injurious to paper and books as 

 well as to many other substances. 



Of the Orthoptera, as is well known, the cockroaches (Blattidai) 

 frequently commit considerable ravages. 



Of the Lei)idoptera the caterpillars of Aglossa pinguinalis and Depres- 

 saria fre<iucntly do damage by spinning their webs between the vol- 

 umes, and also by gnawing the paj^er with which they form their cocoons. 



Among the beetles are several species. The Hypotlienemiis eruditus, 

 a very minute species, excavates tiny burrows within the binding. The 

 death-watches [Anohium pertinax and Anobium striatum) surpass iu 

 their ravages all other species, gnawing and boring not only through 

 the pages of the volumes, but also through the binding. One instance 

 is recorded where 27 folio volumes, i)laced together on a shelf, had been 

 so completely drilled, that a string might be run through the hole made. 



As an antidote to and i^reventive of the attacks of these insects, 

 vaporization is suggested. The infected volumes may be placed m a 

 large glass case made as close as possible, and therein likewise may be 

 set small saucers containing benzine, or a si)onge saturated with carbolic 

 acid. "A strong infusion of colocynth and (juassia, chloroform, spirits 

 of turpentine, expressed juice of green walnuts, and pyroligueous acid 

 have also been employed successfully. Fumigation on a large scale may 

 aliso be ad<)[)ted, by filling the room with fumes of brimstone, prussic acid, 

 or benzine ; or an infected volume may be placed under the bell-glass 

 of an air-pump, and extracting the air, the larvai will be found to be 

 killed after an hour's exhaustion." * 



DESTRUCTION OF INSECTS BY FUNGI. 



It may be recalled that at the Portland (1873) meeting of the Ameri- 

 can Association for the Advancement of Science, Dr. Le Conte suggested 

 that an efficient mode of checking the devastations of the insects injuri- 

 ous to agriculture might be the "production of diseases" from parasitic 

 fungous growths. He mentioned, without particular^ing, " an instance 

 in which from the communication of the disease by some silk-worms, the 

 whole of the cateri)illars in a nine-acre piece of woods were destroyed." 

 The same proposition has been entertained and advocated by various 

 other writers, for example, Hageu, Bail, &c. 



Experiments have been made upon various forms, and lately on potato- 

 beetles. Those inoculated with the fungous disease died in from eight 

 to twelve days, while others iu the same room, but which were not so 



* Hagen (H.). Schiidlichc Insecteu durcli deu Hefeupilz zu todter. ZooL Anz., vol. 

 iii, p. 185. — The Destruction of luaect pests by applicatiou of yeast. Nature, vol. xxi, 

 p. 611. 



S. Mis. 31 23 



