80-(50) THE BEAN-WEEVIL, BRUCHUS FAB^E. 



to detect the presence of a fungus with a microscope, 

 which ought not to be very difficult. On the other hand 

 I am unable to explain the contact of animal or nitro- 

 genous matter with the vertical side of a marble column 

 at the distance of two feet or more from the ground. 



The apparatus, and results enclosed in sealed tubes, 

 have been prepared for your inspection, and are herewith 

 submitted. 



MARCH 8, 1882-FOURTH STATED MEETING. 



L. C. Cooley, Ph. D., Chairman, presiding ; thirteen 

 members present. 



The following donations were made to the Museum 

 and Library : 



Twenty-nine specimens of Indian implements by Di- 

 rectors of the Poughkeepsie Lyceum ; antlers of deer, 

 by Mr. G. M. Slee ; specimens of tufa from Au sable 

 chasm by A. B. Smith, Esq. ; specimen of willemite by 

 1 )r. Stevenson ; five numbers of Journal of Social Science 

 Association by F. B. Sanborne. 



The following paper was read : 



APPEARANCE OF THE BEAN- WEEVIL. BRUCHUS FABM, 

 (VARICORNIS), AT POUGHKEEPSIE. 



BY PROF. W. B. DWIGHT. 



I have examined two samples representing two different 

 varieties of dwarf beans, infested by insects, handed to 

 me by Mr. Charles J. Buckingham, and raised by him in 

 Poughkeepsie last year. They are said by him to be a 

 fair specimen of the present state of his entire crop, and 

 in that case, their condition may well arouse serious fears 

 among cultivators in this neighborhood. These beans 

 look as if they had been riddled with bird-shot. Each 

 bean is conspicuously marked over its surface with eith- 

 er circular holes, or dark circular spots, indicating the 

 1 mrrows of insects within. These holes or spots are gener- 

 ally one-thirteenth inch, sometimes one-twelfth inch 

 in diameter ; the burrows may sometimes be a trifle 

 larger. One of the samples averages about eleven spots 

 or holes to a bean ; the other sample, about eight. Some 



