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I IT 17 
1 I III 
Naturalist. 
EstaMjM January, 1878, 
(NATUR/E DISCERE MORES ) 
Henry llm, PalMsr- 
Volume I. 
SAINT LOUIS, MO., APRIL, 1878. 
Number 4. 
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Address, 
HENRY SKAER, Publisher, 
1213 South Sixth Street, SAINT LOUIS 
To Correspondants. 
All communications for this paper should 
be accompanied by the name of the author, 
sot necessarily for publication, but as evi- 
dence of good faith on the part of the writer. 
Write only on one side of the paper. Be par- 
ticularly careful to write the scientific names 
plain 
Articles for publication may be accompa- 
nied with small sketches or outlines of 
insects, plants or leaves, etc., which we will 
have engraved for publication. All contribu- 
tions should be sent to us two weeks before 
publication day, which is understood to be 
the first of the month, if sketches accompany 
the articles, they should be send four weeks 
before publication day, as it takes an im- 
mense space of time to engrave them. Cor- 
respondents wanted in every State. 
We shall take pleasure in naming any 
specimens of plants and insects sent by cor- 
respondents. Persons who have already sent 
or may hereafter send small collections of 
specimens to be named, will please inform 
os if any of the species sent are from other 
States than their own. Lists of species found 
i n any particular locality are of especial inter- 
est, as throwing light upon the geographical 
distribution of species. But to make them 
of real value, it is requisite that we know for 
certain whether or not all the specimens in 
any particular list come from that particular 
locality, and if not, from what locality they 
-do eonie. 
W. W. Calkins, Esq. 
The above named gentleman, of Chicago, 
III., is doing good work for Natural History; 
-contributing regularly for at least half a 
<Iosen scientific publications, upon subjects 
of Conchology and Geology. Our readers 
will notice th?'t we have published articles 
in every issue of the Valley Naturalist, 
which he has kindly consented to contribute, 
and we hope he will continue to do so 
throughout its existance. 
In our January issue we published an ar- 
ticle on the " Multiplication of species in the 
families Unionidse and Strepornatidse," we 
also gave a notice of a publication by him 
upon "The Geological Formation of LaSalle 
County, and their Organic Remains." For 
the February issue he contributed an article 
entitled "Notes on the Coral Reefs of Flor- 
ida." Also a small note on "Banella Cloth- 
rata." The March issue contained the first 
of a series of papers by him on scientific 
research and travel in Florida, entitled " A 
Naturalist in Florida." To be continued in 
several numbers. 
As most of his time is occupied by his 
business — Lumber Merchant — he finds con- 
stant work for his copyist and secretary, 
Miss Jennie Calkins. And, to use his own 
words, " the printers are indebted for plain 
copy to his secretary." 
We hope our readers, who are interested 
in the same branches of natural history will 
correspond with him, as well as contribute 
liberally to the Valley Naturalist. 
Directions for Sending Insects. 
All letters desiring information respect- 
ing noxious and other insects, should be 
accompanied by specimens, the more in 
number the better. Such specimens should 
always be packed along with cotton, wool, or 
some such substance, in a little pasteboard 
box that is of convenient size, and never en- 
closed loose in the letter. Whenever possible 
larvae (i. e. grubs, caterpillars, maggots, etc.) 
should be packed alive, in some tight tin 
box — the tighter the better, as air holes are 
not needed— along with a supply of their ap- 
propriate food, sufficient to last them on 
their journey; otherwise they generally die 
on the road and shrivel up to nothing. Along 
with the specimens send as full an account 
as possible of the habits of the insect, res- 
pecting which you desire information; for 
example: what plant or plants it infests; 
whether it destroys the leaves, the buds, the 
twigs, or the stem ; how long it has been 
known to you ; what amount of damages it 
has done, etc. Such particulars are often 
not only of high scientific interest, but of 
great practical importance. 
Change in the Bureau of Agriculture. 
The Country makes the statement that 
Professor Charles V. Riley is about to take 
the place of Professor Glover, as Entomolo- 
gist of the Agricultural Bureau. Professor 
Riley has done excellant work as State En- 
tomologist of Missouri, and as a member of 
the United States Entomological Commis- 
sion. He is also widely known as a writer 
and diseoyerer in his special field of science. 
It would be a pity to have his activities 
shelved in a dusty nook of a government 
bureau. 
Note on the Distribution of the Marine 
Shells of Florida . 
BY W. W. CALKINS, CHICAGO, ILL. 
My article in the February number of the 
Valley Naturalist, refers to former eon - 
ditions accompanying the formation of the 
Coral Reefs of Florida, and speaks of certain 
peculiarities in regard to marine mollusk 
fauna, found on the Atlantic coast but want- 
ing on the Gulf side of th,e state — re-appear- 
ing, however, further west. The differences 
mentioned have surprised every observer 
and collector who has given the subject any 
attention. Roemer noticed it. And the 
late Dr. Wm. Stimpson, in a paper read be- 
fore the Chicago Academy of Sciences, a 
part of which was published in the Ameri- 
can Naturalist, vol. 4, remarks " that of 
three hundred and fourteen species of shells 
collected by him in the Florida waters, one 
hundred and forty-five are common to both 
coasts, while fifty-eight are peculiar to the 
east, and one hundred and eleven to the 
west coast." I think Dr. Stimpson's paper 
containing the full list, was burned up in the 
Great Fire of 1871. 
Entomological Draftsman, 
We have recently received from Professor 
Franklin C. Hill. Curator and Lecturer on 
Paleontology, in the Geological Museum Col- 
lege of New Jersey, beautiful enlarged pho- 
tographs of Harpalus caliginosu8,lower and 
dorsal views, and the abdomeual or lower 
views of Lucanus cervus. Linn., with each 
part distinctly drawn and described. The 
professor expects to have the dorsal view of 
Lucanus cervus done sometime next sum- 
mer. Much credit is due the professor for 
the pains he has taken in getting the draw- 
ings so true. Every entomologist ought to 
have one of each. 
Persons receiving copies of the Natur- 
alist who are not subscribers, will please 
regard it as an invitation to subscribe. From 
all interested in natural science we earnestly 
solicit a subscription. With your aid, we 
hope soon to be able to enlarge the Natur- 
alist to double its present size. 
A Lady of Michigan has been very success- 
ful in obtaining two flowers instead of one 
from everv flowering sheath of the callalilly. 
Her method is as follows: as soon as the 
joint flower is cut, or begins to wither, pull 
the stalk down through the open sheath 
clear to the bottom, at the bottom will be 
found standing close to the stalk, another 
bud, enclosed in a delicate covering. Cut 
the old stalk away as close as possible with- 
out injuring the bud, and if it has not been 
kept back too long, it will grow yery 
quickly. 
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