Cincinnati Society of Nataral History. 



group, Blissina, its nearest relatives being every one found in Mexico. 



Mr. Schvvarz, in his note previously referred to, calls attention 

 to the marked susceptibility of the species to moist weather, as in 

 decided contrast with other species occurring in the same region. 

 This, it seems to me, needs further explanation. It is quite probable 

 that the effect of moist weather on the adults has been over estimated, 

 and besides moist weather inland is one thing, while the same degree 

 of moisture along the sea coast where the air and soil is strongly im- 

 pregnated with salt, is quite another. Besides, a few drenching rains 

 during the hatching season will destroy more young than almost any 

 amount of rain will destroy adults. I believe the adult is, directly, 

 little if at all affected by moist weather, even away from the seashore. 

 That it is destroyed in myriads, by the fungus, Sporotrichum globulife- 

 rum, is certainly true, but I believe this will be found more owing to 

 the gregarious habits of the insect, both while young and when fully 

 developed and in its hibernaculum, than any peculiar weakness or 

 susceptibility. There is scarcely room to doubt that the salt in the 

 sea air and in the soil along the coast would have a tendency to coun- 

 teract the effects of this fungus, though it is nowhere likely to do 

 more than reduce an over abundance. 



I have but one more point to make in this connection and this is 

 a philological one. The common name of this insect, chinch bug, is, 

 we are told by Fitch, a Spanish name, given the species because of the 

 resemblance of the young larvae to the young of the bed-bug, Cimex 

 lectularius, and the disagreeable odor of the two have, also, a strong 

 resemblance. In the southern portion of the country, the latter spe- 

 cies is even, at present, known to the people in general as chinch bugs. 

 It is, perhaps, worth while to call attention to the curious fact that 

 Blissus leucopterus is at present an inhabitant of Cuba, Mexico and 

 Central America, southward at least to Panama, and also of Florida, 

 which was under Spanish rule until long after the name " chinch bug" 

 was applied to this species ; and, with the exception of Florida, the 

 Spanish language has always been and is yet the one in common use, 

 except among the aborigines. While it will be too much to say that 

 the insect was christened by a Spaniard, we are in as much of a di- 

 lemma, when we attempt to determine just where and how far south 

 this name " chinche," was first applied to it. 



If ancient habits and environment have left their marks on the 

 modern characteristics of this species, and I have translated these 



