40 



This genus belongs to the family of the Noctuidae, the larvae of which, like the Arctians, 

 are clothed with dense spinular hairs. The caterpillar had secured itself by its abdominal 

 legs to the midrib of a maple leaf, having the fore part of its body elevated, similar to the 

 attitude common to the larvae of the Sphingidas. The parasite displayed great energy in 

 the effort to deposit, seemingly as if to compel the caterpillar to change its postion, but as 

 the caterpillar remained immovable for many minutes, probably a quarter of an hour, I 

 was led to the conclusion that it realized its security in the position it had taken. After 

 driving the parasite away, I discovered that the caterpillar, though perfectly life-like in 

 form, was dead, and as hard as if petrified, and that the parasite, guided, as it would 

 appear in this case, solely by sight, bad been, like the Entomologist, thoroughly deceived. 

 In view of the commonly accepted opinion, that insects are attracted by odour, not only to 

 their own food, but to the proper food for their progeny, whether it be animal or vegetable, 

 I have referred to this incident, as contributing to the theory that the parasite, in provid- 

 ing food for its progeny, seeks it by sight ; for it would seem most improbable that a dead 

 and dried caterpillar should retain a sufficiency of its natural odour to attract. The incident 

 also illustrates, by the mode of attack and the prolonged effort at ovi position, that the 

 caterpillar must be brought into an attitude favourable for the reception of the egg. I am 

 inclined to the opinion that the reduction of these moths through the instrumentality of 

 parasites, is largely effected while in the pupa condition, having noted this peculiarity of 

 habit during our recent extraordinary visitation of the 0. leucostigma Smith. The full- 

 grown larvae of this species, collected by me, developed into moths, while from cocoons 

 gathered it was not uncommon to obtain parasites. The cocoons of the hairy larvae com- 

 monly consist of loose interwoven hairs, and are not so dense but that the pupa is readily 

 discoverable by the parasite, even if the cocoons themselves do not attract them. 



The Dung Pellet Makers. 



The term Scarabaeus, as applied by the ancients to the Sacred Beetle of Egypt, and 

 afterwards by Linnaeus as comprehending the great division of the Lamellicornes of 

 Latreille, is derived from Khepra, an African word, which means cipher or circle, and has 

 reference to the orbicular shape of the pellet of dung that contains the deposit of ova. 

 Khepr is no doubt the root word, and is analogous with the Greek word Kapobos, the 

 Latin word Scarabaeus, and the English word Crab. Any ordinary scholar can follow the 

 slight linguistic change that produces one from the other. The Scarabaeus is imaged 

 amongst the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians, and was regarded by those ancient people as 

 a symbol of the world and the sun. It is not improbable that the term Scarabaeus is 

 associated in the minds of the many with the idea of a Crab, not only because the Sacred 

 Beetle of Egypt is represented under that form, as a sign in the zodiac, but also from the 

 peculiar conformation of the clypeus and thorax of the beetle to the shell-case of that Crus- 

 tacean. Scarabaeus evidently means a ball. It seems to the writer that we apply this 

 term to cover a larger class of beetles than the signification of the word will admit. This 

 article, however, is not intended to suggest any limitation in the classification, but merely 

 to ascribe to these indefatigable labourers the designation which they have earned in the 

 very infancy of human observation. 



The Elm Leaf Beetle (Galeruca Xanthomelcena, Schrank.) 



I visited Flushing, L. I., July 8th, to examine the insect reported to be infesting the 

 noble old English elms which adorn the principal streets of that village. Three weeks ago 

 these trees were in luxuriant foliage ; they have now the appearance as if they had been 

 scorched by fire. I discovered them to be attacked with a countless host of the larva? of 

 this beetle. The American elm and other indigenous trees have thus far escaped, but it 

 is not improbable, as this beetle is double brooded, that the numerous larva? will from the 

 force of circumstance attack them. The eggs are laid in clusters along the veins of the 

 leaves, on their under sides. The larvae, as soon as hatched out, begin to devour the 

 leaves, which they render lace-like, and when full fed they do not undergo transformation 

 by fastening themselves to the surface of the leaves, as is the habit with other species, and 



