1889.1 Entomology. 
rith the recent paper by Fewkes in these pages upon 
the boring of sea urchins, the reader is refered to an article by G. John" 
in which it is maintained that the teeth form the chief boring appara- 
atus, aided to a slight extent by the spines. 
As has long been suspected the saccular diverticula of the starfish are 
not hepatic, but pancreatic in their function. Griffith and Johnstone^ 
have studied them chemically, and find that the secretion is closely 
similar to that of the vertebrate pancreas. 
Vertebrates. — Grieg^^ gi^gg a detailed description of Lageno- 
rhynchus albirostris, with a plate, a copy of a photograph. 
Dr. Shufeldt gives a review of the work done in the Anatomy of 
birds during the years 1 888-89. ^* The American workers are few, F. 
A. Lucas and Dr. Shufeldt being the only ones mentioned. 
ENTOMOLOGY. 
Myrmecophilous Insects Herr E. Wassm 
interesting investigations on the life of myrmecophilous beetles and 
their relations to the ants. He distinguishes : (1) true guests which are 
cared for and fed by the ants (Atemeles, Somechusa, Claviger) ; (2) 
forms which are tolerated but are not treated with special friendliness, 
and which feed on dead ants or rotting vegetable material (Dinarda, 
Hseterius, Formicoxenus, etc.); (3) ant-eating species, pursued as 
enemies, or only tolerated as a matter of necessity (Myrmedonia, 
Quedius brevis, etc.), to which may be added parasites like Phora. 
The three sets are not rigidly separable. 
Atemeles and Somechusa have taken on some of the habits of their 
hosts, and are more adopted than other myrniecophilous insects. The 
best known species of Atemeles (A. paradoxus and A. marginatus) are 
found most frequently in the nests of Myrmica, more rarely in those of 
Formica and others. On the contrary, A. pubicollis seems to be more 
frequent in Formica nests. The species of Atemeles are lively animals, 
^ Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh, XV. 
3 Bergens Museums Aarsberetning for 1888 [1889.] 
1 This department is edited by Clarence M. Weed, Agricultural I 
