IS THE "V^UUBTST IsTJLTTJ^JLLIST. 
being stronger in some directions in the 
morning and weaker about noon, as I stated. 
But, I incline to think, tbey are stronger in 
forenoon from S. E. or E. to M. W. or W; at 
noon from S. toN: in afternoon from S. W. 
to n. e.» 
Missouri Weather Service. 
We have just received a summery of the 
observations of the Missouri "Weather Ser- 
vice, made in January last, of which the fol- 
lowing is a correct report: 
The mean temperature at St, Louis during 
the month of January has been 35 degrees, 
which is about the normal temperature. 
The highest was 56 degrees on the 17th, and 
the lowest was 7.5 on the 7th. The greatest 
daily range was 24 degrees on the 24th, and 
the least was 1 degree on the 30th. The 
average run of the wind was 255 miles per 
day. The rainfall was 2.8 inches, a slight 
excess over the normal. In the State the 
rainfall was least in the North, increasing 
towards the great rivers and towards the 
South, being greatest in the South-east. 
On the 26th a storm entered the Western 
part of the state at 3 a. m. and traversed 
that part South of the H. & St. J. R. R., de- 
veloping into a severe thunder-storm in the 
Central and Southern parts. The heavy 
snow of the 30th and 31st. was confined main- 
ly to the river counties South of St. Louis; 
further to the West the precipitation was 
mainly rain. A brilliant lunar balo on the 
18th, was seen over the entire state. Coronas 
and halves were generally observed on the 
11th. An aurora was visible at Miami, 24th; 
at Louisiana, 28th. Fruit-buds of apple, 
peach, apricot were pronounced safe and 
very abundant. 
Prof. Nipher's Rain Grange. 
At a regular meeting of the St. Louis 
Academy of Sciences, held February 4th, 
Prof. Nipher stated that he had devised a 
shield for his rain gauge, and had made 
very complete experiments with rain and 
snow. He found that a gauge, to be accur- 
ate, must be at a considerable height above 
the roof of a building, in order to obviate 
the effect of the wind, which strikes upward 
at the edge of the roof, which it first reaches, 
and making a curve, strikes the roof at a 
considerable distance from the edge. The 
gauge should therefore be elevated above 
the highest point of the curve, which the 
wind describes. He also gave some observa- 
tions on the rainfall throughout the state 
during the past month, showing that the 
heaviest fall was in the southeastern part, 
and the lightest in the northern part of the 
state. 
% At the same meeting, Dr. Engelmann pre- 
sented a statistical record published in Paris 
in the month of June, containing not only 
vital but Meteorological statistics. He called 
attention to the great difference between the 
temperature in various parts of that city. 
Although the terretory covered is compara- 
tively small, the difference between temper- 
atures at the various points was as much as 
eighteen degrees, showing what a large effect 
local surroundings have upon the atmos- 
pheric temperature. 
Additions to the St. Louis Zoological 
Garden. 
The wild animals purchased at the sale of 
Montgomery Queen's circus, arrived per 
Adams' Express from Louisville, February 
23d, in good order, at the Fair Grounds. 
The two lions, having been purchased after 
the auction sale, are still behind, but will 
soon be here. The animals were enclosed in 
boxes, bored full of auger holes to admit the 
.air. 
On the cages being opened to the light, 
some of the wild travellers manifested great 
surprise on seeing new faces and taking in 
the novelty of a strange position. The pumas 
at first looked in a puzzlad state of mind. 
The tiger-cats refused to get out of their 
boxes until a burning newspaper was applied 
to their rear and they were forced to admit 
to the cogency of the heated argument, and 
moved in their new quarters. 
This kind of forced argument, said Mr. 
Kalb, is usually applied when they wish to 
drive an obstinate tiger or lion from one 
Cage into the other. The gazelles looked 
tired and palpitating after their tiresome 
journey, and behaved with docility and quiet 
resignation. It will take some time for these 
animals to get accustomed to their new 
homes. 
It is intended to make new shelves for the 
pumas, so that they can perch higher and 
gratify their restless instincts in jumping 
about. 
The editor of the Turf, Field and Farm 
from New York, visited the Fair Grounds in 
company with Mr. Hunt and expressed his 
surprise at the fine collection of animals, ex- 
celling in some respects what he had seen in 
France and England. 
Talking about the sale, Mr. Kalb said a 
splendid rhinoceros, worth from $10,000 co 
$12,000, was sold for $3,500. An Asiatic ele- 
phant worth $7,000 or $8,000, brought only 
$1,500, and a horned horse, a very rare ani- 
mal, sold for $1,200; a zebra for $250, and 
other animals at corresponding low prices. 
A wart hog, very rare, brought $190 ; three 
kangaroos sold for $82 apiece, and an eland, 
or horse antelope, brought $205. 
Mr. Kalb coveted these bargains for our 
Zoological garden and regrets they were not 
secured. 
The " Albino Opossum " seems to make 
his appearance- everywhere; Mr. C. E. 
Worthmgton of Chicago, Illinois, writes as 
follows: "Dr. Vieleof this city, purchased 
a young male in the market last week, a 
beautiful specimen and a perfect albino from 
the tip of his nose to the end of his tail, with 
the regular pink eyes. The precise locality 
in which the example was shot is unknown." 
There was an increase in the Zoological 
Collection at the St. Louis Fair Grounds last 
week, in the shape of a young Kangaroo, and 
in the spring it will rank among the chief 
attractions of the show, on account of the 
peculiar manner in which the mother carries 
it about and feeds it. The maternal one har- 
bors it in a pouch, where it rides and feeds 
at will, when strong enough, it sometimes 
leaves the pouch in which it is carried, but 
whenever the least danger appears, it takes 
refuge in the mother's conveyance, not to 
re -appear until assured of safety. 
ON OUR TABLE. 
Publishers and Authors are kindly re- 
quested to send copies of Books, Reports, 
Pamphlets, etc., or proof-sheets of same to 
the publisher of this paper, for the purpose 
of keeping the scientific world posted on all 
recent publications. 
A Remarkable New Genus in Meloidje 
Infesting Mason -Bee Cells in the 
United States. By Professor Chas. 
V. Riley, Ph. D. (From the Transac- 
tions of the St. Louis Academy of Sci- 
ences.) With one plate. 
While the natural history of none of our 
North American species of Melee has been 
traced or recorded, they will, beyond all 
doubt, be found to agree with their Europ- 
ean congeners in their partial parasitism on 
Mason-bees. In examining the cells of An- 
thophora spousa, Smith, Prof. Riley has so 
far failed to discover that Melee is parasitic 
upon that species, Melee is in reality very 
rare in St. Louis. He has, however, found 
on four different occasions in the Fall, within 
the sealed cells of the bee mentioned, a very 
interesting and anomalus Meloid, which may 
be taken to represent the typical partial par- 
asitism of the family in the United States. 
There is a tendency in the family to wing 
reduction, but in no hitherto described spe- 
cies is the reduction carried to such ex- 
tremes as in this, both sexes (Plate V„ Fig. 
13.) having the elytra as rudimentary as in 
the female of the well-known European 
Glow-worm (Lampyris neetiluca) . Another 
characteristic feature is its simple tarsal 
claws, which, together with the rudimentary 
wings and the heavy body, show it to be a 
degradational form. The plate represents 
the Hypermetamorphoses of Epicauta and 
Jlornia, and is beautifully executed. 
The Ferns of Kentucky. A popular 
hand-book of the Ferns of Kentucky, by 
John Williamson, of Louisville. Ky. 
We have received the prospectus with two 
beautiful illustrations — Bristle Fern, (Tri- 
cliomanes Radicans) natural size and mag- 
nified views of same — of this valuable book, 
to be published next May. The work will 
be illustrated with forty etchings by the 
author, giving a picture of every species and 
a magnified view of every genus found 
growing in that state. The illustrations will 
be scientifically accurate, being all drawn 
from nature, showing the fructification, so 
that the student or amateur will have no 
difficulty in recognizing each plant. A short 
essay on the cultivation of these beautiful 
wild plants will also be given, and directions 
of how to collect and preserve them. 
WANT AND EXCHANGE COLUMN. 
This column is established for the benefit of 
those who may wish to buy, sell or exchange 
insects, plants, bird-skins, books, reports, 
etc. The price for insertions under this 
head is ten cents per line, from seven to nine 
words to the line, for each insertion. 
Tortricidae Wanted. 
I am desirous of obtaining as many North 
American Tortricidce as possible for the 
purpose of studyingthis family. I shall be glad 
to name and return to any who will forward 
their Tortricielce to me for this purpose, all 
save such as may prove new and desirable 
to retain for description. I should be pleased 
to correspond with any who intend to col- 
lect Lepidoptera in any part of North Amer- 
ica where but little collecting has hitherto 
been done. Address, 
Prof. C. H. Fernald, 
Orono, Maine. 
Minerals and fossils wanted in exchange 
for the same. C. W. Tuttle, Hancock, N. H. 
SPECIMENS 
— OF— 
NATURAL HISTORY PRESERVED TO 
ORDER. 
ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISHES 
AND REPTILES 
Stuffed and Mounted in a Superior Manner. 
ARTIFICIAL EYES 
In Qreeit Varieties at Reduced Prices. 
JOHN W. SHORTEN, 
General Taxidermist, 
No. 185 West Fourth Street, 
(Send for Price List. ) Cincinnati, O . 
FINEST QUALITY 
Carlsbader and Klaeger Entomological Pins 
$1 25 per 1,000. Sheet Cork 12x3 1-2x1-4: 
$1 25 per dozen sheets, for sale by John" Ak- 
hurst, No. 19 Prospect St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
N. B. — Cost of transportation not included 
in the above prices. 
