FIELD AND FOREST. I09 



eluded that the stronger preyed upon the weaker, and thus sustained 

 themselves during their early stages. 



These observations, however, were artificial, and we were not pre- 

 pared to say, from these alone, that this was the natural habit of the 

 insect. But, on a subsequent occasion, we had a corroboration of it 

 in a grape arbor on the premises of Mr. Jacob Stauffer, where we ob- 

 served them several times, and where he observed them daily, engaged 

 in the same cannibalizing fratracides. They did not disperse when 

 they came from the eggs, but were loosely grouped, and those on the 

 margin of the groups were engaged in a restless and cautious recon- 

 noiter. They would as cautiously manipulate their anterior pair of 

 feet as two duelists would a pair of straight-swords, and when the ab- 

 dominal part of some luckless individual was left unguarded, he would 

 be pounced upon and pierced by his stronger adversary and yield a 

 helpless prey. Only five or six of this brood attained any considerable 

 size, and these then dispersed. We presumed they were then old 

 enough, strong enough, and sufficiently educated in capturing their 

 prey to go forth into insect society and depredate upon its slow-mo- 

 tioned or unwary members. Of course, there may be other causes 

 which prevent many prolific insects from attaining the adult state, but 

 in the species we have reference to, if these observations are not excep- 

 tional merely, it does seem as if about the half or two-thirds are de- 

 signed as food for the other third until they are able to provide for 

 themselves, from the provision which nature has made, beyond the 

 limit of their domestic sphere. 



Lancaster, Pa. S. S. Rathvon. 



The Nebraska Summer School of Science. — This school has 

 been organized, under the auspices of the State officers and a large 

 number of the leading men of the State, as a moving camp for the 

 purpose of studying the natural history and resources of the Valley of 

 the Republican river, Nebraska. 



Regular courses of instruction will be given in botany, entomology, 

 palaeontology, economic geology, dynamical geology, analytical 

 chemistry and mineralogy. The following teachers have been en- 

 gaged, and the services of others will be secured : Prof. S. ^Aughey, 



