1 20 
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[Decembei 
At 7 A. M., September 29th, adults found greatly swollen with blood from 
the mice. 'I’he latter still alive. 
These experiments show clearly enough that lectularius will readily feed on 
mice, at least under the conditions in foregoing. It has now to be proven 
whether or not they can breed under such conditions. There appears to be no 
reason why they cannot, yet experiments are necessary to prove that they can. 
d'he writers have been unable to experiment in this direction because of the diffi- 
culty experienced in obtaining either eggs from confined adults, or very young 
nymphs from other sources. 
It is hardly necessary to say that more experiments are needed on all points 
in the question involved. 
II. dinocons col umbarius (Jenyns). 
.As with leclHlarius, so with this species. I’he host relations are entirely 
unknown. That is, the statements concerning these relations are so confusing, 
that no positive conclusions are possible. The following preliminary experi- 
ments may help to a better understanding of them. 
Thirty-two specimens, in all stages, were obtained on September 24th, 1905, 
from a chicken house, in a large fowl yard at .Vnacostia, D. C. d'he house in 
which they were found w’as a barn-like structure, consisting of an elevated first 
floor and a loft above. On the former, which consisted of a main hallway run- 
ning the entire length of the building, and of pen-like rooms of rather large 
dimensions, on each side, made of closely fitting laths coated with whitewash, 
was occupied entirely by chickens. Each room contained about three nests, 
made of bo.xes filled with straw. The loft above was occupied by pigeons. 
The first floor of the structure w’as reached from the ground by means of a 
stairway. The building itself was surrounded by quite extensive yards, all alive 
with different kinds of poultry and pigeons, and was not very distant from the 
dwelling of the superintendent. 
The bugs were not easily found at first. In fact, none w’ere found in the 
nests. The first sign of their presence was found in the spider nests along the 
walls, which sometimes held large masses of dead bugs and exuviae; generally, 
however, but one or two. Finally, the insects were found hiding in cracks 
between the laths, or in dark corners of the room ; in such places, eggs were 
quite frequently found. Nearly all of them were full-fed, showing a constant 
supply of food at hand. They were in all stages, and it was quite difficult to dis- 
lodge them. The attendant, who was following, said that no bugs were present. 
Hut a casual observer would hardly have noticed their presence. 
