— 194 — 



Sometimes valuable observations are given at these ''annex" meet 

 ings, which, but for the "chiel amang them taking notes" would never 



be "prented. " 



* 



At the recent "annex"' meeting of the lint. Soc. of Washington — pre- 

 sent C. V. Riley, Ph. D., President; Geo. Marx, M. D., Vice President; 

 E. A. Schwarz; Rec. Secy.; L. O. Howard, Cor. Secy.; "ye editor,'' as re- 

 presentative of the rank and file, and Prof. H. Osborn as honored guest — 

 there was observed a roach — Blatta germanica. Roaches are not so scarce 

 in Washington as to merit special attention; but the members having all 

 run very dry on Entomology generally, seized upon the subject with rel- 

 ish — i. e. not with the same relish that the subject of Cicada was seized up- 

 on by some members of this society on a previous occasion; but with a 

 different, less gastronomical relish. 



Prof. Riley related that in his office there was a roach that had be- 

 come quite tame and familiar.* It manifested no fear of him, would 

 watch him at his work and would, when a finger was presented climb on 

 it, run round on his hand, and make itself very much at home. 



Mr. Howard stated that he also had a tame roach, and this specimen 

 had a fondness for tobacco. He would, when smoking, occasionally lay 

 his cigar on the edge of one of the drawers of his desk, and the roach would 

 come to the moist end and feast on nicotine. When taking up the cigar 

 again he would shake off the roach who would wait until it was again re- 

 placed, and again resume his feast. 



Another member, who modestly desires to have his name with- 

 held, thought that insect intelligence had been much under- 

 rated. A young lady friend of his had a pet roach that used to frequent 

 her dressing case drawers, and used to expect and appreciate, the little 

 tendernesses and endearments its mistress accorded it. For three years, 

 or thereabouts it lived happily; but then, for a short time its mistress re- 

 fused to notice it — other matters on her mind probably — and this the 

 little pet took so to heart that it deliberately made a feast on "Pearl Pow- 

 der,'' knowing of its poisonous qualities, and died. Deliberately com- 

 mitting suicide! A marvelous instance of Insect intelligence! 



* 

 Sea shore collecting, which is often very remunerative, has its disad- 

 vantages if pursued on frequented shores. Every passer-by stares: pity- 

 ingly in some instances; curiously in others. That might be endured; 

 but they ask questions: why do you collect? what do you do with them? 

 Usually we tell them they are used to flavor chowder, which despite our 



* The editor has also found Washington roaches very familiar indeed on very 

 short acquaintance. 



