21 



REPORT ON THE ENTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 



By Dr. H. A. Hagen. 



The collection has been remarkably free from pests ; nothing 

 except some Anthrenus (A varius) larvae were found. This fact 

 is remarkable, because during the last year in houses in Cam- 

 bridge, even in some near the Museum, the larva of the carpet-bug 

 (Anthrenus scrophularice) was very abundant, ■ — much more than 

 during the preceding ten years. The freedom from pests is due 

 to the incessant care of the lady assistant, and to the custom of 

 disinfecting at once any box found to be infested. The collection 

 of Dr. J. L. Le Conte is in excellent condition. 



Concerning the part of the collection preserved in alcohol, 

 " Twelve Years' Experience with Rubber Stoppers used in the Bio- 

 logical Collection," by the Assistant, was published in " The Cana- 

 dian Entomologist," January, 1886. There are in use about 7,200 

 vials of 6 to 25 mm. diameter (even a few of 50 mm. diameter and 

 180 mm. length for the larva of Dynastes Hercules). Of all stop- 

 pers in use, less than one per thousand gives out after twelve years, 

 and in the first six years probably one only per two thousand. 

 Stoppers of larger size keep much better than the smaller ones. 

 Since we began to use rubber stoppers, there has been a great 

 diminution in the amount of alcohol necessary to supply the loss 

 due to evaporation. 



The most important addition to the collection are five boxes 

 containing the types of the Carabidse and Longicornia from Central 

 America, presented by Messrs. Godman and Salvin, of London. 

 The North American collection was enlarged by exchange, or by 

 presents from Mr. S. Henshaw, Boston, Mr. G. Jack, Montreal, 

 Mr. Theo. Lyman, Prof. W. G. Farlow, Mr. W. Cabot, and Mrs. 

 Towner, Cambridge ; and by biological specimens collected by the 

 Assistant. Gaps in the Le Conte collection were filled as usual 

 by presents from Dr. G. H. Horn, Philadelphia. 



The Longicorns presented by Messrs. Godman and Salvin neces- 

 sitate a partly new arrangement of this family. There are now 



