410 



A SCALE-EATING MOUSE. 



The following is taken from a leceut ext;liange. The scale-insect 

 mentioned is probably Lecanium persicce, and we see no reason to donbt 

 the statements made: 



The iiKtuse lias never beeu regarded with au eye of favor \)y the gardener, and cer- 

 tainly Lhe mischief which it does is more apparent than any benefit it confers as a 

 general rule. But it would seem that the mouse is distinctly useful on occasiou, as 

 the following, addressed to an English contemporary, clearly proves: "I was much 

 surprised to see a mouse yesterday clearing the scale from a peach-tree trained 

 against a wall under glass. It was very active, and during the ten minutes I 

 watched it must have eaten 200 of these pests. It was too busy to notice me, though 

 I stood opposite it and within a few feet. It would run over and under the smallest 

 twigs, and fixing its hind feet for support would run its nose along the midrib of the 

 underside of every leaf, and race up and down the stem searching for and devouring 

 its prey without a second's pause. I left it as busy as I found it. 



SPIDERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



Dr. George Marx has just issued author's extras of his presidential 

 address, read before the Entomological Society of Washington, Jan- 

 uary, 1801, covering pages 148-161 of volume ii of the Proceedings of 

 that Society. His address is prefaced with a plea for the publication 

 of local fauna lists on account of their great value in the study of the 

 important subject of geographical distribution, and concludes with a 

 careful seasonal and locality list of the spider fauna of the District of 

 Columbia, tabling IGO genera, represented by 306 species. 



ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE AMERICAN 

 ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE FOR 1892. 



Washington, D. C, June 15, 1892. 

 The Annual Meeting of the Entomological Club of the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science will be held during the meeting of that body at 

 Rochester, N. Y., August 17 to 20, 1892, at such times as will least conflict with 

 other features of interest to the members. The meeting of the Association of 

 Economic Entomologists, which will be held at the same time and place, will add 

 to the attractions for all interested in the Science, and it is hoped that members wiU 

 make it a point to be present and assist in making the Rochester meeting a success- 

 ful reunion of all the working entomologists of America. It is urged, also, that 

 every member prepare a paper or papers for presentation before the club, furnish- 

 ing the Secretary with the titles in advance, so that a preliminary program may be 

 drawn up. As most of the members of the club are also members of the Association 

 of Economic Entomologists, it is suggested that subjects relating to applied ento- 

 mology be presented before the latter society, reserving for the Club matters of a 

 more purely scientific interest. Systematic, biologic, or anatomical studies, together 

 with collecting notes, are especially desired and approjiriate. 



C. L. Marlatt, 



Secretary Entomological Club A. A, A. S. 



