THIRD FLOOR 23 



The next hall to the east (No. 307) is devoted entirely to 

 Entomology. At the entrance is a large case containing speci- 

 mens of Termites' nests from Colombia, Jamaica and 



Insects, 

 the Bahamas. Owmg to their resemblance m appear- 

 ance and in habits to ants, Termites are often incorrectly called 

 "White Ants." They are found in the warmer parts of the 

 world and are both useful and injurious. In uninhabited dis- 

 tricts they feed mostly on dead wood, and are the means of 

 clearing the forests of decayed trees. 



At the north of the entrance is the Jesup Collection of Eco- 

 nomic Entomology, illustrating the life history of insects injurious 

 to timber and shade trees. Each exhibit consists of jesup 



the leaves or other affected parts of the tree, together Collection, 

 with the chrysalis, the larva and the adult of the species. Each 

 is accompanied by a descriptive label. 



This hall contains the collection of butterflies of America 

 north of Mexico, and from other parts of the world, which was 

 donated to the Museum by the late Very Rev. E. A Hoffman 

 Hoffman. It contains about 2,000 species, represented Butterflies, 

 by more than 5,000 specimens from Mexico, Central and South 

 America, India, Malay Islands, Australia, Japan, Africa and 

 Europe. The North American butterflies are installed in four 

 cases along the west side of the hall, and nearly all the species 

 found in this country are represented. Among the most 

 noteworthy species in the general series of the collection 

 are the Brilliant Blue Morphos, Owl-faced Butterflies (Caligo), 

 the Swallowtails {Papilio) and the Citron, Orange, Lemon and 

 White Butterflies belonging to the family Pieridae. A beautiful 

 example of Papilio homer us from Jamaica, B. W. I., and one of 

 Dynastor napoleon from Rio Janeiro, Brazil, as well as many 

 other rarities, are in the collection. 



The railing-cases of the gallery are filled with a collection of 

 insects frcm New York City and vicinity. Passing to the left 

 from the entrance the visitor sees in sequence the Local 



galls and their insects, the Bees (Hymenoptera), the Insects. 

 Dragonflies (Neuroptera) , the Grasshoppers (Orthoptera), the 

 Beetles (Coleoptera) in extensive series, and the Butterflies and 

 Moths (Lepidoptera) . Guide Leaflets to the Butterflies (No. 7) 



