1887 | Entomology. 385 
them. Some consider them as of use in the capture of food, and 
others think they play a part in the building of a web. Plateau’s 
experiments were upon five species belonging to as many genera, 
The results were that these species, when deprived of their palpi, 
spun normal webs and captured their prey as well as their un- 
mutilated fellows. He concludes that these appendages are to 
be placed, like those of the mandibulate insects, in the category 
of useless organs. His experiments on scorpions and Phalan- 
a new function. 
Necrology.—M. Maurice J. A. Girard died the 8th of Septem- 
ber last, in his sixty-fourth year, at Lion-sur-Mer (Calvados). Dr. 
Girard was the author of several important entomological works. 
The chief of these is his “ Traité Elémentaire g’ Entomologie.” 
is was completed only in 1885, and comprises three large 
volumes and an atlas of many plates. 
M. Jules Lichtenstein died on the 30th of November last, at 
Montpellier, France, at the age of sixty-eight. M. Lichtenstein 
was a vineyard proprietor, and made a special study of the habits 
of the Grape Phylloxera, and of allied Aphids. He was one of - 
the most prominent and original of the French writers on these 
subjects. 
Edgar, Freiherr von Harold, died August 1, 1886, at Possen- 
hofen, Bavaria. He is best known to American entomologists as 
one of the authors of the “ Catalogus Coleopterorum” and editor 
of the “ Coleopterologische Hefte.” . 
Entomological News.—The “ First Supplement to the List of 
Coleoptera of America, North of Mexico,” by Samuel Henshaw, 
is published in the Extomologica Americana, vol. ii., No. 11. The 
names of two hundred and thirteen additional species are given, 
Mr. Poulton exhibited the bright green blood of the pupa of 
merinthus tile, which is one of many Lepidopterous pups 
