KEPOilT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 261 



protect, when tbe last skin is cast, the soft pupa in its cell. This be- 

 comes the more probable as the thorns occur only on the last larval skin, 

 and are not found previous to the last stage, and as the last larval skin 

 is pushed, ana2 end first, into the opening to the burrow in which the 

 pupa is formed. 



The pui)a is sometimes found in the larval burrow, but more often the 

 full-grown larva leaves the leather and seeks for a crack in the box or 

 lioor, often burrowing for its length into the solid wood. In the ware- 

 houses, where the goods are boxed up in soft wood, the boards are often 

 riddled by these burrows made by larvai seeking for safe places for pu- 

 liation. This instinct of self-preservation is necessary, as the larva? hav<» 

 a fondness for. the soft, helpless pupro of their own species, even when 

 other and more natural food abounds. The pupa is white in color until 

 just before the adult insect issues, when it becomes darker. 



The duration of the pupa state in summer is unquestionably shorter 

 than we observed it in winter. The closely related Dermestes lardaruis, 

 according to Dr. Horn,* remains in the pupa state for a period varying 

 *' from tbree or four days to a week, or even more, depending principally 

 upon the warmth of the locality." It is probable that about the same 

 statement can be made of the species under consideration for the sum- 

 mer months. 



The principal occupation of the adult beetle is the propagation of the 

 species, yet it also is a leather destroyer, gnawing and scoring the sur- 

 face of the boot or shoe, but not burrowing bodily into its substance. 

 The beetles (Plato VI, Fig. 2 x) are sluggish in cold weather and at 

 night, becoming aroused and active by light and warmth, flying by pref- 

 erence in sunshine, and at other times confining themselves to the use 

 of their legs, with which they run very rapidly. Watched in the vivarium, 

 they appear to have a delicate sense of hearing, as on the approach of 

 another beetle they will stretch their antenna) forward, at the same time 

 raising the front part of the body as high as their short legs will allow 

 them. They feign death with great success when they cannot escape 

 capture in any other way, and will suffer themselves to bo handled for 

 some time without signs of life. 



The beetle (PI. VI, Fig. 2 1c), varies from S'""* to 12"°^ in length. It 

 presents superiorly a rather uniform, brownish or grayish-black appear- 

 ance, the general color varying somewhat according to maturity. In 

 the more perfect specimens the dorsal surface is clothed with very short, 

 pale, yellowish, and rufous pubescence. The head and a broad band 

 on each side of the thorax are more thickly covered with denser and 

 longer silver-white hairs, and this last character, together with a minute 

 spine at the inner tip of each elytron, are the most superficial distin- 

 guishing characters of the si^ecies. The ventral surface is closely covered 

 with silvery-white ijubescence, as-with most of the species of this genus, 

 a series of lateral spots appearing dark by the absence of this pubes- 

 cence. These are so distinct in vulpimis that the species was described 

 as maculatus by De Geer. The anal segment has, in addition, a large 

 medial smooth space, and the penultimate segment, in the male, has a 

 medial smooth space in which is situated one or more minute spinous 

 points. 



LITIGATION GROWING OUT OF ITS INJUEIES. 



The following statements in reference to the causes of the suit 

 brought by Einstein's Sons are upon Mr. F. Einstein's authority, and 

 we give them as such, and without indorsement, because we have not 

 heard the other side. 



Tn.r.. Knl. Hoc, Pliila., i ( iHiU-M*; • ,, |.. '^H. 



