88 Circular No. 15. 



but on gluey substances in the different papers and in the 

 binding of books. The outer surfaces of- photographic prints 

 were scored exactly as were the surfaces of wall paper and the 

 backs of books. Attempts made to poison them with starch 

 paste and other similar substances, suggested by what I had 

 seen in print about their food habits, failed, and it was only 



FIG. 13. Silver fish (Lepisma saccharina) . Adult. Original. 



when glue containing poison was used that the insects were de- 

 stroyed. It became evident from these observations that at 

 least one of the silver fish species found in dwellings fed on 

 animal food, and this was made more certain by finding in- 

 dividuals feeding on the bodies of their dead comrades. It 

 must be admitted that there is a general impression, produced 

 by many repetitions of old statements, that the insects feed 

 upon starched fabrics, and it is certainly true that such fabrics 

 have been at times damaged in households by some insect pest, 

 As long as we do not know positively what insect does the mis 

 , the silver fish will probably be blamed 



