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Scale Insects from Trinidad. 
Referring to your letter of the 20th instant, I beg to observe that by the British 
steamship Alps, which leaves Port of Spain for New York this day, I send you some 
of the insects you mention, ‘‘ White Cottony Scale.”—[W. P. Pierce, U.S. consul, 
Trinidad, B. W.I., February 7, 1891. 
RepLy.—The insect known in Trinidad as the White Cottony Scale is probably 
new to science, and differs decidedly from the scale insects which have this popular 
name in other portions of the world. It is a species of the genus Orthezia. The 
branches and leaves also bore three other species of bark lice, viz: The form known 
in Florida as the Purple Scale (Mytilaspis citricola); the Orange Chionaspis (Chion- 
aspis citri), and a new species of the genus Aspidiotus. Your sending was, in fact, of 
much greater interest than I had anticipated, and lam greatly indebted to you for 
your prompt courtesy. 
A Vegetarian Mosquito. 
A friend of mine, a physician of St. Louis, who is interested in entomology, made - 
a business trip to New York about the end of last August, and there, while taking © 
supper at a restaurant, had occasion to notice at his table a Mosquito which, after 
hovering around for some time, alighted on a boiled potato which had been peeled 
and was still warm. The insect repeatedly plunged its sucker into the tuber, and 
the act lasted long enough for the proprietor of the place, who had been called by 
my friend, to also observe it and establish the fact that the Culex was making a vege- 
tarian repast. It is admitted that country mosquitoes are sometimes obliged to con- 
tent themselves with the juices of the plants which grow around their haunts, but 
have those of Gotham become so sybaritic as to appreciate the nutritive qualities of 
potatoes stripped of their jackets? 
The story was told me by a person whom I have no reason to suspect of telling 
fairy tales, and I do not think it impossible. If you think the inciden+ will inter- 
est your readers you might relate it to them, and perhaps other curious observations 
of a similar nature will be reported by others.—[Emile J. Longuemars, Missouri, Sep- 
tember 21, 1891. 
REPLY.—We are obliged to you for the account of the Mosquito which ate boiled 
potatoes. As you say, the statement that country mosquitoes sometimes feed upon 
vegetable juices is well understood, but it is always supposed that they prefer ani- 
mal blood; consequently, that the New York individual should ignore the numerous 
sanguinary opportunities about him and should partake of such a civilized meal is 
certainly exceptional. Many insects which annoy man normally feed on vegetable 
juices.—[September 24, 1891. ] 
Gregarious ‘‘Snake-worms.”’ 
About fifteen years ago, while rambling on a farm, I found a peculiar, rope-like 
something. I first thought it a strange sort of snake; but upon close observation I 
found it to be composed of leaden-colored worms about one-fourth of an inch long, - 
and about as large in body as a pin. Those in the lead were moving in unison, but so 
slowly that the motion was not much more than perceptible. None of the worms 
would go in one division that belonged in either of the other divisions; then those 
divisions of minor rank would retract and fall in with the main body. I have told 
my story to different persons, and was laughed at on account of it. One morning 
several years ago I found a similar sight, and went on to the schoolhouse where I was 
then teaching, got six or eight of my scholars, took them to the spot, and showed the 
strange sight to them. My friend Mr. Munger tells me he saw a like sight once. On 
each occasion the rope-of worms was about half as large as a man’s little finger, di- 
minishing in size toward the higher extremity, and was about fifteen inches in length. 
My question may seem quite simple to a specialist, but I have never found an ex- 
