40f; 



PS r CITE. 



■August— October 1S9O. 



What is the Cause of the gradual exter- 

 mination of insects in certain places? Is it 

 the changes incident to growth of popiihttion ? 

 It is well known that C/iiysof/ianKs dhpar 

 formeriv found in England is now no longer 

 known there; as the French might say, dis- 

 par has disparu. Mr. Jenner Wier writes that 

 Aporia rrataegi was a common species in 

 several parts of Sussex, notably at his fa- 

 tiier's. about 8 miles from Lewes, where it 

 was to be seen in numbers every year, but 

 now for forty years he has seen but one 

 specimen ; nor do his Sussex friends take it. 

 lie states that it has also disappeared from 

 the New Forest where he used to take it up 

 to ten years ago, and from Monmouthshire, 

 where it was once common. 



The Tenth Part of the current series of 

 Edwards's Butterflies of North America deals 

 with two species from the eastern half of the 

 continent, two from the western, both of the 

 latter species of Argynnis, of which little 

 more tiian the bare description is given in 

 the text. Of each of the eastern species, 

 however, Argyiniis alcestis and Sa/yrodes 

 caiitlius, a full life-history is given with 

 abundant illustration, and, of course, of the 

 highest excellence as Mr. Edwards deals with 

 no other. The statements regarding the dif- 

 ference of behavior and coloration of differ- 

 ent caterpillars of the same species is full 

 of interest and shows the necessity for repeat- 

 ed observations. The exceptional autumn 

 activity recorded of the young caterpillar of 

 A. (licrs/t's may possibly have been due to an 

 unwonted climate, as they were transferred 

 while in the egg-state from Chicago to Coal- 

 burgh. While one does not like to find fault 

 with a work of such marked excellence, it is 

 a pity that the author cannot find a better 

 way of describing the position of the tuber- 

 cles of the caterpillar than that employed, 

 which often reads like a multiplication table, 

 locates them vaguely at best, and omits much 

 that is distinctive. 



Long-lived ZorHERUS. — Mr. S. H. Scud- 

 der has in his possession four specimens of 

 Zop/ici/fs hrtmii, one of the toiebrionidiu 



from Yucatan, which is used as an ornament 

 to the dress in Central America by being 

 belted and chained with gold; the natives 

 call them Makatch and they are popularly 

 supposed to live on air. They were received 

 from Stephen Salisbury Esq. of Worcester 

 who has had them alive for five years. They 

 have been kept in a wire cage in which is 

 a large piece of half deca\ed wood, which 

 they evidently gnawed more or less, making 

 some chips, but whether or not they devoured 

 it was a matter of doubt until some birch 

 fungi were introduced ; these seemed to meet 

 with more favor and especiall\' one which 

 had a partially black interior; it was soon 

 seen that some of tlie chips were of a darker 

 color, and examination showed in all, both 

 gray and black, a remarkable unilormity in 

 size ; closer scrutiny showed them to be un- 

 questionabl_v faeces, all being of the same 

 form and made up of a pressed agglomeration 

 of vermiform series of particles. The amount 

 however is ridiculousl}' small, for a dozen 

 of these beetles together would not furnish a 

 thimble full in a 3'ear. 



Notice of Meeting, Association of 



Official Economic Entomologists. 



The second annual meeting of the Asso- 

 ciation of Official Economic Entomologists 

 will be held at the university buildings. 

 Champaign, 111., November nth to 15th 

 proximo, at the same time and place as the 

 meeting of the Association of Agricultural 

 Colleges and ExpeiMment Stations. The 

 committee on Entomology of the latter asso- 

 ciation will meet at the same time. 



Members expecting to attend, will confer a 

 favor upon the officers if they will announce 

 the fact, and will send titles of papers to be 

 read or topics they desire discussed to the 

 Secretary. 



All are earnestly requested to be present if 



possible. 



John B. Smith, Secretary, 



New Bi-unswick, N. J. 



No. 169 was issued 10 May, 1S90. 

 " 170 was issued 11 July, 1890. 

 " 171 was issued 19 August iSc 



