The Zoologist— September, 18G8. 1368 



and preserved a number of these ; they resemble the worms found in 

 cured meat, or similar ones found in many garden vegetables. Their 

 connection with the emigrant parties seems to be that of enemies, 

 preyiug on them. Course N.W." 



"Seventh mo. 15, 1867. 7 o'clock. — A cool morning. Found a small 

 company of these worms on the brick walk near the office. Some 

 passer had trodden on them, and they were thrown into confusion : 

 added to this, a colony of ants had intercepted their course, and carried 

 them off in numbers. They were massed in a crowd, and their efforts to 

 move on were defeated by the ants seizing their leaders at each attempt 

 to move. 8.30. — The perseverance of the ants in carrying away the 

 worms seems to demoralize them entirely, and finally two bricks being 

 placed to protect them from passers' feet, the greater portion of them 

 crept under one of them and huddled together in a confused mass, 

 where they became an easy prey to their indefatigable little enemies, 

 who were to be seen through the morning marching off with their 

 captives, though much larger than themselves. 10 o'clock. — All gone. 

 Course, so far as they were permitted to go, N.W." 



The "many-footed worms" which devoured the Sciara larvae were 

 larvae of some species of the Coleopterous family Staphylinidae. 

 Several specimens were sent with the Sciarae. 



I am also informed that a procession of this species has been seen 

 on Quaker Hill, in the borough of West Chester. Dr. Benj. H. Coates 

 informs me that he has seen their trains in Hunterdon county, N. J., 

 and T. A. Conrad saw them some years ago in his garden in 

 Burlington, in the same State. 



On inquiry of my friend Jacob Stauffer, of Lancaster, whose MS. 

 notes on the species of insects of his region, and their habits, are 

 numerous, I received the following additions to our stock of knowledge 

 of the habits of the larva of the Sciara: — 



"On the 10th of August, 1865, Mr. Rathvon and myself were 

 informed by Dr. Geo. M'Calla that we would be interested by 

 examining an army of small shining worms on the march in the yard 

 of Col. D. Patterson, in W. King-street, Lancaster. 



" On our arrival we found the order of march thrown into great 

 confusion by boiling water, which the women had poured along the 

 line. I collected quite a number of stragglers from the main army thus 

 routed, as did also friend Rathvon. These I subjected to a close 

 examination under a strong magnifying power. My notes read thus : 

 'A portion, about two feet in length, looked like a shining cord, not 



