— zoo — 



attention to the remarkable character of the species, briefly mentioned l>y 

 Gyllenhal. This consists of a large fovea on the upper side of the beak, which 

 Suffrian entirely misinterprets and considers an abnormity. The fact is that this 

 spoon-shaped fovea is a secondary male character not recurring in any other de 

 scribed species oftbe genus. Mr. Schwa:/ also exhibited larvse, pupae and imagines 

 :>l Bcntvouloiria, recently found by him at Biscayne Bay, Fla., and described the life 

 history of the insect and more particularly the first appearance ot the snow-white 

 efflorescence with which the thorax and a spot on the elytra ol the imago is covered. 

 Mr. Schwarz finally pointed out that Dr. Harris in his accounl of the Pear-blight 

 Tomicus (Phlaolribus limnaris) apparently mixed two species, the forms he mei tions 

 as living under Elm hark being in all probability Hylesinus vpaculus. 



Mr. Howard read a paper entitled t- A misconception regarding the I. 

 edition of Say." Tin- title page of this edition reads "The complete writings of 

 Thomas Say on the Entomology of North America," but finding several papers not 

 included in this edition Mr. Howard conclude- from a paragraph in the preface that 

 the editor simply intended to hiring together the descriptive papers oi Say a:\<\ that 

 the title page is therefore very misleading and the cause of a very general tnisi 0:1 1 p 

 tion on the part of Entomologists, as to the scope of the work. 



Mr. Smith gave some notes on his experience with Museum pests. Psocids he 

 finds come universally into boxes however tight, and are readily controlled by 

 Naphthaline. The Dermestids, AnlJtrenus and Megalotna are not affected by Naphtha- 

 line to the extent of preventing growth and transformation. It acts however as a 

 repellant to the parent, and seems to check development of the young larva. Boxes 

 of similar nature in similar situations always showed infection more commonly where 

 no Naphthaline was used, while boxes with cones were as a rule tree, or with a very 

 slight infection only. Tight boxes with Naphthaline cones remained free while the 

 cones lasted, and some time after showed young larva where it was almost impossible 

 that the infection should come from the outside. The common pest in Washington is 

 Antkrenus varius. A lot of boxes received from North Carolina proved invested with 

 Attagenus larva; those developed were killed, and the boxes were supplied with 

 cones — for over a year no larvse developed. After the cones had evaporated, they 

 w lie not immediately replaced, and in a short time when the boxes were again 

 examined it was found that a very general development of small larvae evidently 

 only a very short time from the egg had taken place; As Attagenus is not common 

 in the Museum and as no other boxes were similarly infested, he concludes that the 

 Naphthaline prevented the development. Other instances were mentioned showing 

 that the eggs of these beetles may under some circumstances remain undevelopi d and 

 sound for an indefinite time. He also finds bisulphide of carbon a positive destroyer 

 of the insects in all forms save the egg. It will not however reach larvse in large 

 bei tii - like Copris or moths like the Attaci, Boxesexposed to the light are less al 

 than others. He also exhibited some cocoons of a Microgaster found parasitic on 

 Antkrenus, and noted several oilier features in the history of the beetles, among which 

 he mentioned that in the warmed rooms of the Museum the insects breed continually, 

 all stages being found at all seasons. 



A Correction. 

 On page 160 Mr. Howard corrects Mr. Julich for his use of the 

 word Elder in his Article page 123. The mistake was an error in Proof 

 reading. The word is Alder in his manuscript. 



