394 



become so annoying to the housebold and especially to Mrs. Bull herself that her 

 health has really safFored by reason of tiiciii. — [J. M. Granniss, M. D., Connecticut, 

 March 9, 1892. 



Reply. — Examination of the specimens shows that they are Chalcidids of the genus 

 Necremnus, the species being undescribed. If your patient is not mistaken in 

 attributing her discomfort to these particular insects they are probably parasitic 

 Tjpon Clothes Moths in her house, as all other species of the genus so far as known 

 are parasitic upon Tiueina. Further details, however, are much desired, as well as 

 other specimens, and also information as to why the lady considers these to be the 

 insects which are troubling her. Has she caught them in the act of biting? — [April 

 25, 1892.] 



On Figs grown -without Capriflcation. 



I learn from my friend, Mr. S. II. Scudder, of Cambridge, Mass., that last fall you 

 presented to the Library Association a case of figs which were pronounced equal to 

 any Smyrna figs the members ever tasted. The impression has got out that these 

 were true Smyrna figs that had been caprified by the Blastophagas introduced by 

 Mr. Shinn, but Mr. Eisen writes me that this can not be true. May I beg you to let 

 me know whether the figs were anything other than fine specimens, well jireserved, 

 of some ijarticular Adriatic fig. * * * — [C. V. Eiley, Washington, D. C, Febru- 

 ary 17, 1892. 



Reply. — * * * The figs presented to the Library Association were grown ou 

 my orchard farm at Loom is. Placer County. They were the so-called White Adri- 

 atic. They, no doubt, were the best fig grown in California, but I do not think they 

 were superior to the Smyrna. Their excellence was due to ha,ving been grown in a 

 foothill country, elevation 400 feet, and also because they had not been irrigated. 

 I shall send you a box of this year's growtlx when the crop matures, ;. e., September. 



I am engaged in solving the question whether a good fig can be pi'oduced from the 

 seed of the Smyrna fig. lu 1885 and 1886 I sowed the seed, fixing 1895 as the date 

 when figs would be produced. I neither believe nor disbelieve in the theory of cap- 

 rification. The writings of Meyer, Lombush, etc., all indicate that the authors were 

 never on the spot to carry on practical experiments. But I may say that the experi- 

 ment of Prof. Eisen and myself Avas startling to a mere agnostic. 



I have had some correspondence witli Mr, Van Deman who sent Eisen a collection 

 of " Smyrna cuttings," but they were nearly all Italian fig cuttings. Mine died 

 owing to the neglect of my foreman. 



The experiment of caprification will be continued this summer at Mr. Shinn's, 

 Niles, Alameda County. — [E. W, Maslin, San Francisco, Cal., May 31, 1892.] • 



On the Beaver Parasite. 



A friend of mine is preparing a work on the Beaver, and asked me if I could pro- 

 cure a copy of your interesting article on Plafypsyllus casforis published in Vol. i of 

 Insect Life. Is there any chance of finding specimens of the parasite, either liv- 

 ing or dead, on the dried skins of the Beaver, and if so, are they confined to a cer- 

 tain part of the skin or on all parts of the bodyf I looked over a few skins this 

 morning but could find nothing resembling a parasite of any kind or stage except 

 the curious white cocoon-like object, of which I inclose a small lot, which were 

 very abundant among the hairs, especially around the ears. Can you tell me what 

 they are? * * *— [Albert F. Winn, Province Quebec, Canada, May 28, 1892. 



Reply. — * * * The finding of Platypsyllus material on beaver skins is not at all 

 improbable, and careful combing should produce some specimens at least of the larvse 

 and also perhaps of the adult. The former, however, will be very much shriveled and 

 will hardly be recognized except l)y some one familiar with their appearance, as they 

 are quite small. They would be found on almost any part of the beaver, butjierhaps 

 most frequently on the upjier and anterior portions. The specimens which you send, 

 and whidi you state occurred abundantly :;moug the hairs around tlie ears look 



