178 



The sting also is not torn from the body of the insect and left 

 in the wound when the ant is brushed off, as the case of the bee. 



While dissecting one of the ants, by mistake I broke the 

 poison sack, whereupon a yellowish liquid ran out upon the 

 parafin which immediately melted, as if a match had been ap- 

 plied to it. 



All -forms but the male have a sting. I have been unable 

 to find any resemblance to a sting in the male, although there 

 are two organs resembling the palpi of the workers. 



The paper was discussed at length. Mr. Ehrhorn nuide a 

 few remarks on liis observation with poisons for killing ants. 

 He was particularly struck with the efficiency of Cyanide of 

 Potassium finely ground and scattered about the exit holes of 

 SoJenopsis geminaia. He reported that after disturbing the 

 nest by stamping the ground it would only take about five min- 

 utes until the bulk of the craAvling ants would succumb to the 

 fumes of the Cyanide. His observations on Pheidole megace- 

 phala made him think that species did not succumb as easily, 

 although the fumes would kill great numbers. Mr. Ehrhorn 

 thought that Cyanide could be used to great advantage and that 

 would in a measure supplant Carbon bisulphide, which is ex- 

 pensive and dangerous to handle. He mentioned that experi- 

 ments with sprays of Cyanide and water had given good results 

 used at the rate of 1 oz. to 1 gallon of water. , 



Mr. Fullaway said that the Pineapple growers could no 

 doubt be greatly relieved from the Mealy bugs if they would go 

 after ants. 



Dr. Perkins made some remarks on Termites. Mr. Giffard 

 asked if anybody could give a remedy for the work of Termites. 

 Dr. Perkins recommended poAvdered arsenic. 



Mr. Terry exhibited a sample of Chinese inlaid feather work 

 representing an insect. The feathers were of a suial! Kiug- 

 fisher. 



Dr. Perkins gave a general account of Rev. Thomas Black- 

 burn's old collection of Hawaiian insects, of which he had re- 

 cently become possessed. 



Mr. Terry exhibited the pupa of a Japanese beetle Adoretus 

 tenuimacidatus in its split larval skin. He gave the incubat- 

 ing period as four days and the larval period seventy-seven days. 



