1885.] Zoölogy. IIO7 
moving the wax from the branches of the tree and of preparing it 
for market was then explained. Thereafter Mr. Hosie detailed 
the result of an examination of the insects after the wax had been 
fully deposited, and finally passed to the annual quantity of insect 
white wax produced, its value and uses.—Anglish Mechanic. 
Parri oF Insects.—Examination of above fifty individuals of di- 
verse forms of Orthoptera and Coleoptera have caused M. F. Plateau 
to reach the following conclusions respecting the use of the palpi: 
(1) During the act of eating they remain inactive. (2) Deprivation 
of the maxillary palpi does not hinder the insects from eating as 
usual. (3) Loss of the labial palpi hasno more effect. (4) Smell 
remains the same after the four palpi are taken away. (5) The 
amputation of all the palpi does not prevent these insects from 
recognizing and seizing their food. (6) Loss of all the palps does 
not prevent them from feeding as usual. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL Nrews.—We have received from Dr. G. Mayr 
a detailed work on fig insects, consisting of 105 closely-printed 
pages, with three excellent plates. Dr. J. A. Lintner, the State 
entomologist of New York, has issued a lecture on cut-worms, 
read before the State Agricultural Society in January last—— 
One of the most valuable contributions to entomology of the 
year is Mr. Poulton’s “ Farther notes on the markings and attitudes 
of lepidopterous larve, together with a complete account of the 
life-history of Sphinx ligustri and Selenia illunaria,’ in the second 
part of the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 
for 1885. Among the topics discussed in this paper are the fol- 
lowing: The utilization of the changes in color before pupation for 
protective purposes, and an anatomical reason for the special pro- 
tection of larvæ, wherein the author shows that the various means 
of protection in larvæ are always of a passive kind. When active 
(flagella) they seem to be directed against the attacks of ichneu- 
mons, which produce fatal results in quite another way. “ Nearly 
all the means of defence against other enemies are such as tend 
to prevent the larva from being seen or touched, rarely such as to 
be of any avail when actually attacked.” This Society has 
within a few months obtained a royal charter. The death of 
Mr. H. K. Morrison, so well known as a zealous and successful 
collector, in May last, was sudden. There is a good opening for 
One or more efficient collectors in this country to succeed Bel- 
frage, Boll and Morrison. 
ZOOLOGY. 
_ Recent work on Baranocrossus.—W. Bateson’ has recently 
Investigated the morphology of Balanoglossus, and thrown a 
great deal of light upon this hitherto obscure and little under- 
ani A summary of his results is as follows: There is 
Quarterly Journal Mic. Soc. Suppl., 1885- 
