78 The American Naturalist. [January, 



first part of the paper deals with the author's visits to Florida and his 

 own and others' observations on the habits of the alligator. 



The times of laying lie between June 9th and 17th, " while it is 

 probable their eggs are occasionally laid somewhat later. I doubt if 

 they are ever laid much before the 9th." 



The nest is very large and is built by the female, and it is probable 

 that the same nest may be used more than once but not more than 

 once each year. 



In counting lots of eggs the number averaged twenty-eight each. 

 Fine plates accompany the paper giving the superficial structure of 

 the stages of development. Unfortunately none of the internal 

 changes are given, and the text is a very brief description of the fifty- 



The author's purpose is to furnish a general account or outline of 

 the forming of the alligator as seen in external features. 



" I have been led to do this by reason of the entire lack of any 

 embryological knowledge of the alligator group, and on account of 

 there still being something to be desired in the way of a set of general 

 figures illustrating the development of a reptile." 



ENTOMOLOGY. 1 

 The Ox Warble Fly.— The Journal of Comparative Medicine 

 and Veterinary Archives for June, 1891, contains an article by Dr. 

 Cooper Curtis upon the " Oxwarble in the United States." Dr. Curtis 

 reviews the literature of the subject and shows that what American 

 writers have thought to be Hypoderma bovis, is really H. lineata. 

 Larvse of this insect having been found in the oesophagus, under the 

 pleura near the eleventh rib, and in the subcutaneous tissue of the 

 back, led Dr. Curtis to conclude that the life history of this insect is 

 not as has been supposed ; i. e. that the eggs are laid along the backs 

 of cattle, and upon hatching, the young larva? bore into the skin. If 

 no larvse or " wolves " are found in the backs of cattle until January, 

 it is probable that the eggs are taken into the mouth and the larvse go 

 from the oesophagus to the back.— Howard Evarts Weed, Miss- 

 issippi Agricultural College. 



Spontaneous Ignition of Carbon Bisulphide.— According to 

 a recent issue of the Scientific American Supplement, Dr. Max Popel 

 Conducted by Prof. C. M. Weed, Hanover, N r . II. 



