494 RECORD OF SCIENCE FOR 1886. 



accordiug to Mr. Kiinckel, "the bed-bug. from tbe time of its batching, 

 in tlie state of birva and pupa, possesses three dorsal, abdominal, odor- 

 iferous glands, which disappear in the last moult, and are rejdaced in 

 the adult state by a metathoracic, sternal, glandular apparatus. The 

 presence of this api)aratus is a criterion which enables us to prove that 

 the Gimex has com])leted its evolution." (C. R., 1880, July 5, p. 81 ; Ann. 

 and Mag. Nat. Hist. (5), xviii, pp. 107-1(38.) 



Odoriferous apparatus of butterflies. — The nature of the production of 

 the various kinds of odors emitted by butterflies has been investigated 

 and reported upon by Dr. B. llaase. Some odors are common to both 

 sexes, while others are restricted to one or the other. 



Those odors which are common to both of the sexes are of two cate- 

 gories, (1) "those which depend on some definite ethereal oil resulting 

 from the food of the caterpillar," and (2) those which are of use in the 

 protection of the animal, and emitted against its enemies. 



The odors which are restricted to one of the sexes are " the various 

 attracting and captivating smells of sexually mature males and females." 

 These are especially manifested by the BombycidiB, containing some of 

 the large moths, when the odor of the female attracts males from a great 

 distance. Without their olfactory antennae, it is believed, the males would 

 be unable to find the females, and it-is to be noted that " the males are 

 odoriferous only when the female is capable of flight." The fragrance 

 is " variously disposed, on scales of the wings, in thoracic pouches, in 

 pouches on the posterior wings, etc. There are small odoriferous scales, 

 usually occurring. They are generally protected, often associated with 

 tufts of hair, which diffuse fragrance." The modifications of the odorif- 

 erous apparatus, exemplified in various German and tropical Lepidop- 

 tera, are noticed. (S.-B. naturf. Gesell. Isis, 1880, pp. 9, 10; J. E. M. S. 

 (2), VI, pp. 909-970.) 



MOLLUSKS. • 



Acephals. 



Poison of the edible mussel. — The poisonous qualities of the common 

 table mussel have been investigated by Dr. G. Baumert and Mr. E. 

 Salkowski. The i)oison of the mussel was found by Salkowski in a 

 cold alcoholic extract of the substance of the mollusk; waterj' extracts 

 were also poisonous ; these results were obtained by physiological ex- 

 periments. 



Chemical investigations were undertaken by Mr. Brieger, and it was 

 shown that "there was a non-poisonous base, the specific mussel poison, 

 an extremely poisonous substance which produced a copious flow of 

 saliva and diarrhcia, but was not mortal, and a decomposition product 

 of poisonous [)roperties. The mussel poison appears to belong to the 

 group of ptomaines, and is therefore a decomposition product of the 

 flesh of the mussel. Dr. Schneidemiihl is of opinion that the liver is the 



