392 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



tions ; and although frequent applications of carbolic acid kept 

 the fungus down, I could not get rid of it. 



About a year ago, whilst showing some drawers of my 

 European butterflies to a medical friend, I pointed out to him 

 a fine specimen of Apatnra iris, the thorax of which was covered 

 with mould. 



My friend advised me to use "formalin" which, he stated, 

 be believed to be absolutely fatal to all such growths. I took 

 his advice, with the result that every trace of mould vanished 

 within a few days from my cabinet drawers, and up to the 

 present date there has not been the slightest return of it. 



My method is very simple : I pour out a small quantity of 

 formalin into a saucer, stick a wad of cotton-wool on the head 

 of a pin, immerse it in the formalin, and then stick it in the 

 drawer, which must be closed immediately. After a few days the 

 pin and cotton-wool can be removed and the cure is complete. I 

 have not found the slightest damage to a single specimen result 

 from this process. 



I was particularly struck with the result of the remedy on a 

 box of large Chinese Sphinges which had been kept in a damp 

 cupboard, and which were in consequence a mass of mould. A 

 few days after treatment with formalin the fungus was not only 

 dead but withered away. 



I have made a number of enquiries amongst entomological 

 friends, but cannot find anyone who has used formalin for 

 mould ; I am therefore sending this note. Probably there may 

 be some who have used it, and, if so, their experiences, which 

 may possibly have extended over a longer period than mine has 

 done, would be interesting. 



Youlgreave, South Croydon : October 21st, 1911. 



ON SOME EECENT ATTEMPTS TO CLASSIFY THE 

 COLEOPTERA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR 

 PHYLOGENY. 



By C. J. Gahan, M.A. 



(Published by Permission of the Trustees of the British Museum.) 

 (Concluded from p. 351.) 



The Eucnemidae and Throscidfe are without doubt closely 

 related to the Elateridje and Cebrionidse, and should be asso- 

 ciated with them in the same minor group, either as derivative 

 forms, or as collateral descendants from the same ancestors. 

 The Dicronychidae, recognised by Koble as a family, are only 

 distinguishable from ordinary Elateridae by having somewhat 

 remarkably modified asymmetrical male genitalia, and a peculi- 



