Nov., '02] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 293 



Notes and News. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS 

 OF THE GLOBE. 

 Arrangements are being made by the State Entomologist of New 

 York to supply schools desirous of such aid with small collections of in- 

 sects upon ihe payment of a nominal fee. These collections are to be 

 designed to illustrate courses in zoology, biology, nature study, and it is 

 announced that they will '^e classified into the following divisions : 



1. A systematic collection of about 100 representatives of the principal 

 orders, with series illustrating the transformation of species having both 

 complete and incomplete metamorphoses. 



2. A collection of about 100 of the more common interesting species 

 found in the field, together with series illustrating the various stages and 

 habits of some of the more important forms. 



3. The same as number 2 but composed largely of insects met with in 

 the Spring. 



4. Special collections of about the same size as those described above 

 and representing limited groups, for example : Economic insects, mimicy, 

 bees and their allies, fhes, butterflies and moths, etc. These special col- 

 lections will be prepared only in response to several requests. Other 

 phases of insect life may be illustrated if there be a demand for it. — News- 

 paper. 



Note on Larva of Schizura concinna. — On a recent walk I captured a 

 colony of full grown larvae of Schizura concinna feeding on blackberry. 

 While transferring them to a breeding cage I noticed an odor of sulphuric 

 acid, which I was much puzzled to account for until it occurred to me to 

 smell one of the larvee. I thus discovered that the odor came from a 

 transparent watery fluid that exuded from the caterpillar's skin wherever 

 it was touched. When held close to the nose the odor was so strong as 

 to produce an involuntary checking of the breath familiar to any one who 

 has inhaled ammonia fumes. The lluid did \\o\. tarnish silver when rubbed 

 upon it, but showed (juite a strong acid reaction upon litmus pap r. This 

 larva furnishes a beautiful example of the combination of a strong defensive 

 equipment with warning coloring. — F. H. Foster, Claremont, N. H. 



■ In 1898 Mr. A. G. Weeks Jr., of Boston, Mass., sent Wm. J. Gerhard 

 to the districts near La Paz, Bolivia, for the purpose of collecting diurnal 

 Lepidoptera. Sixty weeks were spent in this work and many new and 

 rare species were discovered. An account of the journey in given in a 

 publication entitled "Illustrations of Hitherto Untigured Lepidoptera," 

 by A. G. Weeks Jr. The entire expense of the journey and subsequent 

 publications was borne by Mr. Weeks, who has also supplied the beautiful 

 colored plates of new Bolivian Lepidoptera which have appeared in the 

 News. This liberal gentleman is doing good work for the advancement 

 of science, and we trust that he may have many followers. 



