430 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
first found in deep lakes abroad, and more recently in a reservoir near 
Birmingham. Like many marine organisations it was as transparent as glass. 
This rendered the creature less conspicuous to its foes. Like other animals 
of the same group it laid two kinds of eggs. The young at first were quite 
unlike their parents, so unlike that they were thought to be a distinct 
species. Sir John then gave a description of this little animal, and, 
by means of sketches, illustrated the peculiar functions of the different 
organs, pointing out the difference of the organs in male and female. 
INSECTS WHICH INJURE Booxs.—At the recent meeting of the British 
Association, at Sheffield, Prof. Westwood, in the Department of Zoology 
and Botany, read a paper “ On the Insects which injure Books.” Referring 
to an address delivered by Dr. Hagen, on July 2nd, 1878, before the 
American Library Association, on the same subject, Prof. Westwood passed 
in review the life-history of the different species of insects which have been 
found to destroy books and printed papers, several of which were not noticed 
by Dr. Hagen. The caterpillars of the moth Aglossa pinguinalis, and also 
of a species of Depressaria, often injure books by spinning their webs 
between the volumes and gnawing small portions of the paper with which 
to form their cocoons. A small mite, Cheyletus eruditus, is also found 
occasionally in books kept in damp places. A. very minute beetle, 
Hypothenemus eruditus, forms its tiny burrows within the binding of books. 
Lepisma saccharina also feeds on paper, of which a very curious example 
was exhibited ofa framed and glazed print of which the plain paper was 
eaten, whilst the parts covered by the printing ink were untouched. White 
ants (T’ermitid@) are a constant source of annoyance in warm climates; and 
Prof. Westwood also noticed the ravages committed by the cockroaches, 
Blatta orientalis. The insects that do the greatest injury are Anobiwm 
' pertinaw and A. striatum, commonly known as the “death watches,” 
burrowing through the books, even, it is recorded, drilling through twenty- 
seven folio volumes. Various remedies for the destruction of these insects 
were mentioned and especial notice was directed to a ‘ Report of the Com- 
mission appointed to inquire into the Decay of Wood-Carvings, and the 
Means of Preventing and Remedying the Effect of such Decay,’ issued by 
the Science and Art Department in 1864. Prof. Westwood then detailed 
the various remedies proposed, as washing with solution of corrosive 
sublimates in alcohol, exposing the books to the vapour of benzine, or 
carbolie acid, or hydrocyanic acid, or fumigating with burning sulphur. 
Placing the volumes under the exhausted receiver of an air-pump for an 
hour has also been found successful by Dr. Hagen. 
