353 



nitely. The concrete proof of such capacity with species in entomology is sehloni 

 obtained, and we have, therefore, to rely upon an assemblage of characters which 

 differ in their relative value in different groups. A character accepted Avith justice 

 as of specific value in one group may have varietal weight in another and generic 

 value in a third. The consensus of oi)inion among the best authors in a given group 

 should decide the question of relative importance of any given character. You will 

 gather from my writings in the past on the subject of classification that most of the 

 definitions we are employing are purely conventional, and that we have, for the most 

 part, in nature, but a series of alliances. The test of continuous perpetuation, when- 

 ever it has been made in different orders of insects, has always enlarged the concej)- 

 tious of specific limit by showing a much greater variation than has been previously 

 inferred; in other w^ords, experience tends to what is known as lumpiug in si^ecific 

 characters, while the beginner is very apt to see specific characters in the minutest 

 differences. The philosophical way of defining species is to allow value only to those 

 characters which jirove absolutely constant, and to denote as A'-arieties or subspecies 

 those differences which, inferentially, w^e are justified in believing to be non-spe- 

 cific— [C. V. E. 



THE RAVAGES OF BOOK WORMS. 



Science for March 2J: (vol. xxi, p. 158) contains under the above title an 

 account of the ravages of three species of insects in books. Dr. 

 Samuel A. Green, at a recent meeting of the Massachusetts Histori- 

 cal Society, exhibited two volumes that had been ruined by the so- 

 called '^book-worms,'' and made some remarks -on the subject. His 

 notes, together with a letter from Mr. Samuel Garman, to whom the in- 

 sects were referred, are published in full. The species that wrought the 

 mischief in this instance are common household i^ests and are idetitified 

 by Mr. Garman ?i^ Lepisma saccharinaC^.), Anthrenus varius, and Blatta 

 si:)., the last mentioned being identified from its egg cases and excrement. 



FURTHER ON BEE STINGS AND RHEUMATISM. 



Mr. John Worthington, U. S. consul at Malta, has sent us a clipping 

 from the Malta StandaTcl of April 11, which states that the theory that 

 the virus of the bee sting is an infallible remedy for acute rheumatism 

 has received most unquestionable confirmation from the practices of 

 the country x^eople in Malta. Bees are said to be plentiful in the island 

 and the virtue of the sting as a cure for rheumatism has been long- 

 established. It is, in fact, said to have been a common practice for 

 generations past to resort to this remedy in all severe cases, the results 

 being most favorable. 



THE MEDITERRANEAN FLOUR MOTH AGAIN. 



At the meeting of the Entomological Society of France, of December 

 28, 1892, M. Eagonot refers once more to the question of the origin of 

 JEphestia MehnieUa. He mentions the adoption of the name '' Mediter- 

 ranean Flour Pest" by the English, and the popular idea in Europe 

 that the insect had been imported from America in flour or grain. 

 Without wishing to discuss the merits of the question he called the 

 attention of the society to the fact that a species of the family Phyci- 



