— 200 — 



called attention to the remarkable character of the species, briefly mentioned by 

 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 tliis 

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

 scribed species of the genus. Mr. Schwarz also exhibited larva;, pupx and imagines 

 ol Bonvoiihiria, recently found by him at Bi.scayne 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 of the imago is covered. 

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

 Tomidis (Phhxotribus limnaris) apparently mixed two species, the forms he mentions 

 as living under Elm bark being in all probabiliry Hylesimis opaailus. 



Mr. Howard read a paper entitled "A misconcqjtion regarding the Leconte 

 edition of Say." The title page of this edition reads "The complet-; writings of 

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

 included in this edition Mr. Howaid concludes from a paragraph in the ))reiace that 

 the editor simply intended to bring together the dcscriplh-e paf>ers of Say and that 

 the title page is therefore very misleading and the cause of a very general misconcep- 

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



Mr. Smith gave some notes on his expsrience with Museum |5ests. Psocids he 

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

 Naphthahne. The Derineslids, Anthremis and Megaloma are not affected by Naphtha- 

 hne 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 free, 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 ahnost impossible 

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

 Anthremis variiis. A lot of boxes received from North Carolina proved invested with 

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

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

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

 examined it was found that a very general development of small larv;v — evidently 

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

 in the Museimi 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 undeveloped and 

 sound for an indefinite time. He also finds bi-sulphide of carbon a positive destroyer 

 of the insects in all forms save the egg. It will not however reach larv;v in large 

 beetles like Copris or moths like the Attaci. Boxes exposed to the light are less affected 

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

 Anthremis, and noted several other 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 beinii found at all seasons. 



A Correction. 

 On page i6o Mr. Howard corrects Mr. Jiilich 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. 



