21 
REPORT ON THE ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 
By Dr. H. A. Hacen. 
THE collection has been remarkably free from pests ; nothing 
except some Anthrenus (A. varius) larvee were found. This fact 
is remarkable, because during the last year in houses in Cam- 
bridge, even in some near the Museum, the larva of the carpet-bug 
(Anthrenus scrophularie) was very abundant, — much more than 
during the preceding ten years. The freedom from pests is due 
to the incessant care of the lady assistant, and to the custom of 
disinfecting at once any box found to be infested. The collection 
of Dr. J. L. Le Conte is in excellent condition. 
Concerning the part of the collection preserved in alcohol, 
‘“‘ Twelve Years’ Experience with Rubber Stoppers used in the Bio- 
logical Collection,”’ by the Assistant, was published in ** The Cana- 
dian Entomologist,’’ January, 1886. There are in use about 7,200 
vials of 6 to 25 mm. diameter (even a few of 50 mm. diameter and 
180 mm. length for the larva of Dynastes Hercules). Of all stop- 
pers in use, less than one per thousand gives out after twelve years, 
and in the first six years probably one only per two thousand. 
Stoppers of larger size keep much better than the smaller ones. 
Since we began to use rubber stoppers, there has been a great 
diminution in the amount of alcohol necessary to supply the loss 
due to evaporation. 
The most important addition to the collection are five boxes 
containing the types of the Carabidz and Longicornia from Central 
America, presented by Messrs. Godman and Salvin, of London. 
The North American collection was enlarged by exchange, or by 
presents from Mr. S. Henshaw, Boston, Mr. G. Jack, Montreal, 
Mr. Theo. Lyman, Prof. W. G. Farlow, Mr. W. Cabot, and Mrs. 
Towner, Cambridge; and by biological specimens collected by the 
Assistant. Gaps in the Le Conte collection were filled as usual 
by presents from Dr. G. H. Horn, Philadelphia. 
The Longicorns presented by Messrs. Godman and Salvin neces- 
sitate a partly new arrangement of this family. There are now 
