81 



pos Linn, (l)etter known in literatnrc as Sphinx atropos), makes a 

 hissing or, more correctly, crackling sound which seems to be pro- 

 duced by the rubbing together of the mandibles or jaws, each of 

 these being provided on its outer surface with a row of prominences 

 serving as a stridulating organ. The sound is not unlike that made 

 by the discharge of an electric spark or the snapping of the finger 

 nails together. Sometimes the sound is continuous and resembles 

 that made by winding a watch. The death's-head moth itself also 

 makes a sound, which has been compared to the squeak of a mouse. 

 There has been wade difl'erence of opinion as to the manner in which 

 these sounds are j^roduced, and the reader is referred to Tutt's British 

 Lepidoptera, Vol. IV, pages 444-453, where the matter is treated in 

 detail. The pupa, shortly before emergence, is capable of emitting a 

 sound similar to that of the moth, although fainter. 



A JUMPING GALL. 



July 6, 1904, Dr. INIorris Gibbs, Kalamazoo, Mich., sent a number 

 of galls found underneath oak trees. When received nearly all of 

 the specimens were jumping about in a very lively manner and to 

 a considerable height for such small objects. Their motions are 

 considerably different from those of the better-known jumping bean, 

 which are caused by a lepidopterous larva similar to the codling moth, 

 and known as Carpocapsa saltitans. These galls occur at the rate 

 of a thousand to a single leaf, and are formed on the under surface 

 of different species of oak. They have at first glance the appearance 

 of a clover seed, having an average diameter of only 1 mm. Closely 

 examined they are found to resemble a miniature acorn. The insect 

 which produces this gall is a cynipid fly, Ncaroterus saltatorius Hy. 

 Edw., a common species, reported from Ohio to Michigan and Mis- 

 souri and westward to California. It has been surmised that the 

 peculiar bounding motion of this gall is caused by the larva within, 

 whose motion is similar to the leaping of the cheese skipper {Piophila 

 casei Linn.). A technical description of this gall w^as given by 

 Riley in the Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis 

 (Vol. Ill, p. cxci). The same writer also mentioned this species on 

 page 142 of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Vol. XII, 

 fifth series, 1888. 



THE GREAT ELM LEAF-BEETLE. 

 (Monocesta coryli Say.) 



During the past two years injury by this species, which is ordi- 

 narily rare, has been observed in Virginia. September 21, 1903, 

 Prof. William B. Alwood, Blacksburg, Va., wrote of damage by this 

 28739— No. 54—05 m G 



