THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



[ Among the most noteworthy species in the general collection 

 are the Brilliant Blue Morphos, Owl-faced Butterflies (Caligo), 

 the Swallow-tails (Papilio), Citron, Orange, Lemon, and White 

 Butterflies belonging to the family Pieridae. A good represen- 

 tation of the ililk-weed and Glass-winged Butterflies and allies 

 is also shown. A beautiful example of Papilio homerus from 

 Jamaica, B. W. I., and of Dynastor napoUon from Rio Janeiro, 

 Brazil, are exhibited, as well as many other rarities. 



In the railing cases of the hall is exhibited a collection of 

 insects found within fifty miles of New York City, which was 

 transferred from the main hall, where it was on exhibition for- 

 merly. The hall also contains collections of economic ento- 

 molog}- and insect architecttire. 



At the entrance of the hall is a large case containing speci- 

 mens of TeiTnites' nests from Colombia, Jamaica, and the Baha- 

 mas. The specimen here figured was collected by Prof. R. P. 

 Whitfield in Graytown, a suburb of Nassau on the island of 

 New Providence, Bahamas. It is about three feet high and 

 twenty-two inches in diameter. This interesting specimen was 

 fotmd in the midst of a pineapple plantation and was built on 

 an old cedar stump. It is composed of vegetable mold which 

 accumulates in the cavities of the coral formation of the island. 

 Professor Whitfield informs us that the settlers of the islands 

 encourage these insects for the purpose of feeding them to young 

 chickens. The other nests in the case were collected by Dr. F. 

 C. Nicholas. Owing to their resemblance in appearance and in 

 habits to ants. Termites are wrongly called " White Ants." They 

 are found in the warmer parts of the world and are said to be 

 useful as well as injurious. In uninhabited districts they are 

 valuable, owing to the fact that tliey feed essentially on dead 

 wood, and are the means of clearing the forests of decayed trees. 



They also feed upon other substances, and in settled regions 

 they often attack houses, and in this respect do considerable 

 mischief to the woodwork by devouring the interior of the 

 frame and posts. They never break through the exterior, but 

 leave a shell scarcely thicker than ordinary paper, so tliat noth- 

 ing without indicates the cavity within. 



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