21 



Underneath the species in question are two transverse parallel lines of this white down 

 (fig. 2) ; one of them, probably the anterior, is nearly marginal, and is interrupted in the 

 middle ; while the other is nearly central, and in place of the interruption in the middle 

 it has a V-shaped projection back or away from the other line. The form of the scale is 

 quadrangular, and not unlike that of a turtle (fig. 1). When fully developed it is a little 

 more than of an inch long, and a little more than | as wide. 



Here at Lansing, the small, yellow, oval eggs appear late in August. In Tennessee 

 they would be found under the scales in their cotton wrappings many days earlier. 

 The eggs are ^ of an inch long, and -^j of an inch wide. These eggs, which are very 

 numerous, hatch in the locality of their development, and the young or larval lice, quite 

 in contrast with their dried, inert, motionless parents, are spry and active. They 

 are oval (figs. 3 and 4), yellow, and ^ of an inch long and of an inch wide. The eyes, 

 antennae (fig. 5), and legs (fig. 6), are plainly visible when magnified 30 or 40 diameters. 

 The 9-jointed abdomen is deeply emarginate, or cut into posteriorly (fig. 3), and on each 

 side of this slit is a projecting stylet or hair (figs. 3 and 4), while from between the eyes, 

 on the under side of the head, extends the long recurved beak (fig. 4). The larvae soon 

 leave the scales, crawl about the tree, and finally fasten by inserting their long slender 

 beaks, when they so pump up the sap that they grow with surprising rapidity. In a few 

 weeks their legs and antennae disappear and the scale-like form is assumed. In the 

 following summer the scale is full-formed and the eggs are developed. Soon the scale, 

 which is but the carcass of the once active louse, drops from the tree, and the work of 

 destruction is left to the young lice, a responsibility which they seem quite ready to 

 assume. 



In my; observations I have detected no males. Judging from others of the bark-lice, 

 these probably possess wings, and will never assume the scale form, though Prof. P. R. 

 Uhler writes me that some of the males are apterous. He says that it is very important 

 to know and record the males, and that the genera are hardly determined without 

 \hem. 



REMEDIES. 



If valued shade or honey trees are attacked by these insatiate destroyers, they could 

 probably be saved by discreet pruning — cutting off the infected branches before serious 

 injury was done, or by syringing the trees with a solution of whale oil soap, — or even 

 common soft soap would do — ^just as the young lice are leaving the scales. It would be 

 still better to have the solution hot. Whitman's Fountain Pump is admirable for mak- 

 ing such applications. 



Fig. 1 is slightly magnified ; the others are largely magnified. 



THE BEATING NET. 



BY JAMES S. BAILEY, A. M., M. D., ALBANY, N. Y. 



The uses of the beating net are obvious and can at once be appreciated in the collect- 

 ing of Coleoptera and larvae. A convenient and simple form is here presented, with 

 directions for its construction. 



This particular form of net was invented and presented to me by my friend, Mr. 

 T. B. Ashton, of Tonganoxie, Kansas, who has not only distinguished himself as a Coleop- 

 terist, but has shown himself to be an excellent mechanic. 



By grasping the net with the left hand, as shown in fig. 3, thrusting it under a shrub, 

 and giving the bush a quick shake, or blow with a walking stick, every living thing upon it 

 will instantly fall upon the apron of the net. If Coleoptera, they can be secured with the 

 fingers or a small net held in the other hand for that purpose. If caterpillars, they can 

 be gently rolled into a receptacle prepared for them. 



The frame work is made of well seasoned hickory. The sides, A B and G I, are 

 composed of strips 37 inches long and IJ wide at the ends A and G, and tapering uni- 

 formly until they are | of an inch wide at the other ends, B and I. Each piece should 



