Sprague.] 



206 ~ [April 25, 



Specimens were exhibited of mammals of New England, 

 purchased by the Sidney Homer bequest, of mounted birds, 

 among them an albino swallow, and tortoises from Wiscon- 

 sin, presented by Mr. Thure Kumlien, and rocks and plants 

 from the Pacific coast, by Dr. S. Kneeland, a herbarium of 

 Belgian cryptogamia from Mr. Andrews, and the anterior 

 portion of an albino porcupine, from Mr. M. L. Bruce. The 

 thanks of the Society were voted for the latter gift. 



Section of Entomology, April 25, 1871. 



Mr. F. A. Clapp in the chair. Eleven members present.* 



Mr. Philip S. Sprague reported, that having been employed 

 for some time in revising the family of Scolytidoe, and arrang- 

 ing the Society's material, he had found the use of the higher 

 magnifying powers and a very careful dissection requisite. 

 The funiculus of the antenna of Xyleborus^ which was be- 

 lieved by Dr. Leconte to be four-jointed, proves five-jointed 

 under a power of 200°. Eight species, representing four gen- 

 era of this family, had been met with during a recent collect- 

 ing trip in the vicinity : Cryphalus asperulus Lee, found 

 under the bark of the smaller branches of the white ash, 

 measuring only .02 of an inch, was especially interesting from 

 the construction of its burrow ; this was invariably in the 

 form of a cross, the shorter arms each little longer than the 

 body of the insect, while the longer arms frequently encircled 

 the twig. In answer to a question from Mr. E. Burgess con- 

 cerning the purpose served by the characteristic sculpture of 

 the apex of the elytra in this family, Mr. Sprague said that 

 he thought these rugosities might enable the insect to brace 

 itself more firmly against the material excavated, or assist in 

 the removal of excreta. 



