596 Scientific News. [ September, 
atic study, with its fine plate drawn on stone by the author him- 
self, is a good example of how the microscope ought to be used. 
Microscopists will be similarly interested in the study of the 
structure of the tongue of the honey bee, by Prof. J. D. Hyatt, in 
the last, July, number of the Amer. Quar. Mic. Fournal. 
MANDIBLES OF ANTS WORN BLUNT BY USE.—“ Much interest has 
lately been developed, in the Cambridge Entomological Club and 
in the Entomological Section of the Boston Society of Natural 
History, by discussions which owe their origin to the statement 
published by Rev. H. C. McCook, that the mandibles of ants are 
worn off and become blunted by the labor which they perform. 
It has been thought that Mr. McCook was mistaken, that the 
chitin of the mouth parts of insects remained as it had been upon 
emergence from the chrysalis, and that the forms of mandibles 
observed by Mr. McCook: were monstrosities. In confirmation 
of the wearing away of mandibles, Mr. E. P. Austin exhibited, 
at the last meeting of the Entomological Section of the Boston 
Society of Natural History, nearly a hundred specimens of Pasi- 
machus, in which all the fresh, bright-looking specimens had per- 
fectly-shaped sharp mandibles, while those specimens which were 
old and worn in general appearance presented every gradation of 
bluntness of the mandibles. ommunications on this subject, 
based on observation, would be acceptable to the Cambridge 
Entomological Club.”—Psyche. 
AMERICAN QUARTERLY MicroscopicaL JourNAL.—For the first 
time we are inclined to find fault with this new journal. The 
July number contains several good natural history articles and a 
variety of interesting notes on aperture, illumination, &c. The 
portion with which everybody will be disappointed is the 
announcement that its publication will cease with the present 
number. This will leave us once more without an American 
periodical devoted to the publication of elaborate memoirs upon 
microscopical subjects. The journal has already acquired a char- 
acter and name too valuable to be lost, and it is to be hoped that 
the editor and publishers will be induced to reconsider their 
decision to abandon the enterprise. 
“ERED LPR ORIE A 
SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
 — We take pride and pleasure in drawing attention to the 
appreciative manner in which British naturalists testify to i 
nature of work recently done in this country in ornithologie: 
_ bibliography, and trust that the desired results may be brought a . 
. 
