1884.] Entomology. 933 
Oberlin College is fortunate in coming into the possession of the 
extensive collection of plants made by Dr. Beardslee, of Paines- 
ville, Ohio.——In an important paper read before the Ameri- 
can Philosophical Society, Oct., 1383, and printed May 12, 
1884, John C. Branner discusses the course and growth of the 
fibro-vascular bundles in palms. He reviews at length the various 
theories which have been held as to the course of the bundles in 
the palms, a subject well known to be surrounded by many diffi- 
culties. The discussion is based upon direct personal observa- 
tions and study of a large number of specimens of no less than 
seventeen different genera———The long looked-for Manual of 
Mosses, by Lesquereux and James, has at last been issued by 
Cassino & Co., of Boston. An adequate notice will appear soon. 
——Wnm. Boott describes several new sedges in the June Bot. 
Gazette. In the same number the announcement appears that 
Professors Coulter and Barnes are engaged in a special study of 
the North American species of the genus Cyperus, and desire to 
receive specimens. ‘“ Loaned specimens will be retained for as 
short a time as possible, and carefully returned.” he “ Ques- 
tions on botany,” prepared by Professor Spalding for the use of 
students who have attended the general lectures on botany deliv- 
ered in the departments of pharmacy and medicine in the Univer- 
sity of Michigan, indicate that in another of our medical schools 
the importance of biological botany is fully realized Mr. R. 
M. Christy read a paper recently before the Linnean Society of 
London on the power of penetrating the skins of animals pos- 
sessed by the seed of Stipa spartea. “ Inquiry among butchers 
and others showed conclusively that large numbers {of these 
seeds] were often found beneath the skin of sheep, especially 
about the shoulders.” This grass is abundant in the Mississippi 
valley (where it is known as Porcupine grass), and we have been 
familiar with it for years, but have never before heard of its pene- 
trating the skins of animals. Has this been noticed by NATU- 
RALIST readers ? é 
ENTOMOLOGY. X 
LIFE-HISTORIES OF SOME GEOMETRID Motus.—These and other 
unpublished notes on Lepidopterous larvæ haye been prepared in 
Connection with work on our forest trees done for the Entomo- 
logical division of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and to 
incorporated in the fifth report of the U. S. Entomological 
Commission, 
Aplodes coniferaria, n. sp—We have reared six moths from 
> Curious 14-flapped larva found feeding in August on the fir 
and hemlock, and described in Bulletin vu, U. S. Ent. Comm., p. 
238, and referred by us to Aplodes. The caterpillar is dull 
brick-red, with seven pairs of bread dorsally situated flat flaps on 
each side. It bears a striking resemblance to the small reddish 
twigs of the fir with the leaf scars. ’ 
