ne 
[November 1884. BULLETIN BROOKLYN ENTOM. SOC. VOL. VII. 95 
meters of water according to the size of the larva and then to let it dry. 
The drying process will generally take from one to six days. 
The advantages of this process are that you need no oven or heat, 
that the colors do not change, that the operation takes but a few minutes 
and that you have great facilities to give the larva a natural position. 
After the larvee are dry they are easily removed from the tube by 
cutting the intestine close to the anus all around the tube. By rubbing 
a little soap on the point of the tube before insertion it prevents the mem- 
brane sticking to the tube. When it is merely desired to dry one or 
two larvee the air pressure is most readily obtained from those red rubber 
balloons which are sold in all toy-stores. By fastening a short glass tube 
provided with a rubber tube and pinchcock in the mouth ot the balloon 
and inflating it with air, closing the pinchcock, then attaching it to the 
glass tube which has been secured to the larva and opening the pinch- 
cock the iarva skin will inflate and take a more or less natural form, 
I generally have the drying larvee lie on a table, and cause them to take 
a natural position, by propping them up or holding them down wher- 
ever desired; by hanging them up they are apt to elongate too much. | 
Where it is desired to dry several larveea small gas holder can be 
used advantageously, though the following apparatus is as satisfactorv as 
to results and can be readily obtained. A U-shaped tube made of tin 
or iron tubing from 7 to 10 centimeters in diameter, the legs being each 
about 60 centimeters long, is open at one end and connects at the other 
to a series of small T-shaped tubes of about 4 millimeters bore, each 
ending in a short piece of rubber tubing closed with a pinchcock or glass 
stopper. By pouring water in the open leg the air is compressed in the 
closed one and any desired pressure of air can be obtained, while larve 
can be attached or detached without the least trouble or any appreciable 
loss of pressure. 
ee = 
SYNOPSES OF COLEOPTERA. 
TETROPIUM, Kirby. 
This genus contains two species resembling Asemum in general 
appearance but differing from it in the unequal palpi and divided eyes. 
T. velutinum, Lec. Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. 1V, 1869, 7. 382. 
This species may be known by the somewhat opaque thorax with 
deep medial impression and strongly rounded sides, and by the fine 
