—29— 



each of the joints (obsolesdng on lo, ii and 12); a median subrhomboidal 

 spot and a subdorsal narrower, somewhat paler spot near the anterior margin 

 of each of joints 2-1 1. The posterior half of each joint is also beset with 

 numerous pale brown granulations (obsolete on 11 and 12), but without a 

 trace of hair. Ventrally, the thoracic joints are much lengthened, the femora 

 show a transverse shade and the abdominal joints a dusky transverse band, 

 shorter and more conspicuous anally. Patches of long, stout bristles occur 

 on the dusky parts of joints 4, 5, 6, 7 more particularly, and of shorter bristles 

 on the sternum. 



While upon thLs subject of Platypsyllus I may remark that the 

 note (page 122 of E. A. for last June) which appeared while I was 

 in Paris amazed me not a little, and obliges me to jog Dr. Horn's 

 memory with the following statement of facts: 



1. The paper in "Insect Life," No. 10, as stated in the foot- 

 note was read April 20, 1888, before the National Academy. It was 

 read by request. In it I distinctly refer to Dr. Horn's first announce- 

 ment of the larva before the Washington Entomological Society. 



2. I could not refer to his own paper on the subject, which was 

 not published till sometime after mine was read. The date, March, 

 1888, on his signature is unjustified and misleading. My assistance, 

 acknowledged in his paper, did not begin till April 10, 1888. I was 

 in correspondence with him on the subject during the rest of the 

 month, and asked for advance sheets of his paper in order to be able 

 to refer to it; but the Doctor found it inconvenient to send them as 

 his Platypsyllus paper formed part of a more general one. He was 

 fully ad\'ised of my intention to read a paper, and when, unable to 

 get his advance sheets, I concluded that it might be advantageous to 

 have my conclusions as to details published independently and unin- 

 fluenced by his, he encouraged this course, as I had offered to defer 

 to his wishes. 



3. My paper was reproduced in "Insect Life" after I left for 

 Paris, because few entomologists had seen it in the "Scientific 

 American," to which it was sent after reading. In reproducing it I 

 could not well have referred to Dr. Horn's paper, nor have made 

 any change or addition whatever without preparing a supplementary 

 paper to include subsequent notes both on Platypsyllus, Leptinus 

 and Leptinilhis, which, as the Doctor had reason to know, I was 

 getting together. This I had then neither time nor inclination to 

 do, because, to use the language of one of his own letters to me: 

 ' ' I want facts and ideas, and do not care who publishes. ' ' 



What is it then that Dr. Horn reclaims? Not priority of an- 

 nouncement, because that is admitted for him in my paper. Not 

 priority of publication, because I have made no claim to it. The 



