1 8 8 2 .] Entomology. i o 1 9 



The insect is the common Dermestid beetle, Attagenus mcgato- 

 ma. An examination shows that the short, downy particles of 

 feathers are all inserted by their basal ends, and the explanation 

 of the felting is of course simple enough, when the barbed na- 

 ture of these fine feathers is remembered, the barbs all directed 

 towards the apex. In the regular shaking of the pillow, each 

 of the minute particles of feather whenever caught in the cotton 

 fabric by its base, became anchored in such way that every ad- 

 ditional movement would anchor it firmer. The remarkable thing 

 about the present case is that the felting should be so beautifully 

 regular. We do not remember to have seen any published ac- 

 count of a similar felting resulting from the work of a beetle.— 

 C. V. Riley, in Rural New Yorker. 



Location of Taste in Insects- 

 find that gustation in the Diptera 



the point at which the false tracheae open, and is continued along 

 the false tracheae, becoming intensified at the extremity of the epi- 

 pharynx, where quite a group of nerve-endings occurs; it is pro- 

 longed along the margins of the epipharynx and operates at the 

 entrance or throughout the cavity of the pharynx. — Journal of the 

 Royal Microscopical Society. 



Vitality of Insects in Gases. — From the apparent indifference 

 of some insects to foul and poisonous emanations as well as the 

 varying sensitiveness of others under similar conditions, it would 

 seem reasonable to conclude that there is a substantial difference 

 in the delicacy of their respiratory functions, which might be in- 

 dicated approximately by subjecting individuals of various 

 groups to artificial atmospheres of deleterious or irrespirable 

 gases. 



This opens a wide field of experimentation both in the methods 

 employed, the reagents used, and the insects examined. More 

 from curiosity than any other motive, I have made some trials 

 in this direction, and the results may at least be tabulated, though 

 they have not been extended enough to admit of any very inter- 



The vessels used in these experiments were large glass bottles, 

 the mouths of which were fitted very tightly with rubber corks, 

 these latter were perforated by two circular holes in which were 

 secured a long and short glass tube made air-tight in their fittings 

 by the pressure applied to the rubber cork upon insertion. These 

 glass tubes were one-half inch in diameter, and served as an inlet 

 and outlet for the gases, upon charging the bottles, and were in 

 turn closed by small rubber corks. 



The gases used were oxygen, hydrogen, carbonic oxide, car- 

 bonic acid anhydride, prussic acid vapors, nitrous acid fumes, 

 chlorine, laughing gas (nitrous oxide) illuminating gas and am- 

 monia. The experiments were made ' * 



