485 



in North America; but while the food habits of a i^reat many of our 

 genera still remain unknown, there is nothing- published to show that 

 any species has habits similar to those of the Euro[)ean Lethrus. Our 

 si)ecies, so far as known, are either dung-feeders or live in decaying 

 fungi or in rich soil; a few of them [Cloeotus) live under decaying bark, 

 and most of our species of Trox breed on dried carcasses of animals. 

 Aphodius larrew alone is reported by Dr. Horn as occurring in the flowers 

 Larrea mexicafia, and apparently feeds upon living vegetable matter, 

 at least in the imago state. We would also call attention to the fact 

 that one of our large species of this subfamily is probably phytopha- 

 gous, as deep holes in the ground, evidently made by some large beetle 

 of this group, have been found to contain, not the customary ball of 

 dung, but an accumulation of leaves or pieces of leaves. The insect 

 which has this habit is not yet known, but it seems possible that among 

 our coprophagous Scarab;Teid;iB w^e have one or several species which, 

 in food-habit, approach the genus Lethrus, although they may not use 

 leaves of any cultivated plant. — [E. A. Schwarz. 



aERMINATION OF WEEVILED PEAS. 



Prof. E. A. Popenoe, in the Industrialist (Manhattan, Kansas) for May 

 2, 1891, reviews the old question as to whether Peas, which have been 

 damaged by Weevils, are fit for seed. He also gives an account of a 

 series of careful experiments made at the Kansas Agricultural College, 

 from which he concludes that weeviled seed should not be planted 

 because it is worthless compared with sound, and because by planting 

 infested seed without more care than is usually taken to destroy Wee- 

 vils, one simply propagates the insect for the sake of a minimum 

 return in plants. Out of 500 peas infested by Weevils but one-fourth 

 germinated, and the partial destruction of the cotyledons rendered the 

 further growth of these doubtful. A check lot of the same number of 

 sound Peas gave a germination of 97 per cent. Of 1,800 weeviled 

 Beans but 30 per cent could have passed the germinating stage, while 

 95 per cent of the check lot of perfect Beans germinated. The exami- 

 nation of 275 injured Peas showed but G9 in which the germ was not 

 wholly or partially destroyed. This is a sad commentary on the state- 

 ments of early authors who had much to say concerning the wonderful 

 disposition of Providence in causing the Weevils to spare the germ of 

 the seed. 



THE DEVASTATING LOCUST IN CALIFORNIA. 



For the first time since 1875 the Devastating Locust is reported in 

 destructive numbers from California. We notice in the Daily Appeal 

 (Marysville, California) of May 29 that Mr. G. W. Harney, president of 

 the Yuba County Horticultural Commission, has made a tour of inves- 

 tigation and that the alarming rumors are not justified. He states that 

 they were particularly numerous at Palermo, but did not create any 



