50 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February, 



within are as perfect as it is possible to have them, and at the same time 

 hold the specimens accessible for study. All museums are at times liable 

 to have specimens stolen, but it is to be hoped that no one who studies 

 that collection will he found so devoid of honor as to rob it. 



I regret greatly that many of the traditions of the collection are known 

 only to me. Frequently specimens have something about them indicating 

 their origin and types from Chaudoir, Mannerheim, and others, even 

 including Dejean, may be known thereby. As many of these traditions 

 concern individual specimens it is hardly possible to give any general 

 data. In a collection of the character of that of LeConte it is important 

 th it no label attached to a pin, however unimportant it may seem, should 

 be removed. — Geo. H. Horn. 



EwLiN, in his book of Travels in Turkey, has recorded a singular tra- 

 dition of the history of the Flea and its confraternity, as preserved among 

 a sect of Kurds, who dwelt in his time at the foot of Mount Sindshar. 

 "When Noah's Ark," says the legend, " sprung a leak by striking against 

 a rock in the vicinity of Mount Sindshar, and Noah despaired altogether 

 of safety, the serpent promised to help him out of his mishap if he would 

 engage to feed him upon human flesh after the deluge had subsided. 

 Noah pledged himself to do so; and the serpent coiling himself up, drove 

 his body into the fracture and stopped the leak. When the pluvious ele- 

 ment was appeased, and all were making their way out of the ark, the 

 serpent insisted upon the fulfillment of the pledge he had received; but 

 Noah, by Gabriel's advice, committed the pledge to the flames, and scat- 

 tering its ashes in the air, there arose out of them Fleas, Flies, Lice, 

 Bugs, and all such sort of vermim as prey upon human blood, and after 

 this fashion was Noah's pledge redeemed." — Hist, of Ins. (Murray, 1838) 

 ii, 312. 



Identification of Insects (Imagos) for Snbscribers. 



Specimens will be named under the following conditions : ist.'The number of species 

 to be limited to twenty-five for each sending; 2d, The sender to pay all expenses of trans- 

 portation and the insects to become the property of the American Entomological Society ; 

 3d, Each specimen must have a number attached so that the identification may be an- 

 nounced accordingly. Exotic species named only by special arrangement with the Editor, 

 who should be consulted before specimens are sent. Send a 2 cent stamp with all insects 

 for return of names. Before sending insects for identification, read page 41, Vol. Ill, 

 Address all packages to Entomological News, Academy Natural Sciences, Logan 

 Square, Philadelphia, Pa. 



Entomological Literatiare. 



Under the above head it is intended to note such papers received at the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia pertaining to the Entomology of the Americas (North 

 and South). Articles irrelevant to American entomology, unless monographs, or con- 

 taining descriptions of new genera, will not be noted. Contributions to the anatomy of 

 insects, however, whether relating to American or exotic species will be recorded. 



I. Bulletin of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural His- 

 tory, vol. iv. — On the entomology of the Illinois River and adjacent 



