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popular acceptance of a more appropriate common name for tliis species. 

 He tliouglit it not so strange that Dermestidaifeed on vegetable material, 

 since many species liaving an altogether animal-feeding habit in the 

 larval state are vegetable feeders as adults, instancing the feeding of 

 larvae of various species on Avoolens and other animal products, the 

 adults of which feed on pollen. 



Mr. Fernald discussed the use against these insects of inflammable 

 and explosive insecticides in connection with its bearing on insurance 

 policies and was inclined on this latter account not to recommend them. 

 He gave the method of controlling the carpet beetle followed with suc- 

 cess by his Avife, as follows: (1) Before bringing flowers into the house 

 thoroughly shake them to dislodge the beetles. (2) Eegularly collect 

 and destroy the beetles which emerge and gather on the windows of 

 the house during the months of March and April. (3) Carefully treat 

 the carpets on the upper floors of the house, as the beetles commonly 

 enter through the upper windows, and these carpets act as traps, get- 

 ting the first and the bulk of the invasion. 



Mr. Davis said his wife had been unsuccessful in the use of similar 

 remedies. 



Mr. Kolfs said that the work of the carpet beetle was much worse in 

 the South than in the North, but he did not know the species. He 

 used carbon bisulphide or cyanide gas, preferring the latter. If used 

 with caution he thought neither of these substances dangerous, and 

 their use was especially desirable in connection with herbariums. 



Mr. Lintner said that he ordinarily recommended kerosene, which he 

 thought more suitable than gasoline. Before laying new carpets all 

 the grooves should be carefully tilled with cement or plaster, and the 

 carpets should be left loose at the borders to facilitate frequent inves- 

 tigation. The use of tarred paper was also advisable. He had found 

 the following trap method valuable: Eemove all woolens from rooms 

 or closets and scatter about them bits of red flannel, which is a very 

 attractive bait for the Anthrenus. The beetles thus attracted are 

 afterwards collected and destroyed. Eeferring to Mr. Fern aid's state- 

 ment regarding the method of entrance of the beetles from flowers out 

 of doors, he said that this is a common experience and that they com- 

 monly enter houses through the upper windows and appear first in the 

 carpets of the upper rooms. 



Mr. Fernald discussed the subject of the relation of color in woolens 

 or carpets to infestation by the '' buffalo moth," and said that it had been 

 carefully investigated by his former assistant, Mr. Lounsbury, as 

 to the attractiveness both of particular colors and different dyes to the 

 beetles. The information was sought from various sources, including 

 factories for the manufacture of carpets and rugs. The conclusion 

 arrived at was that color is not an important factor — at least the 

 beetles do not confine their attacks to i^articular colors, though show- 

 ing a preference for the greens. He thought it more likely that the 



