17 
piceus, specimens of which were found, together with the adult Tene 
broides, in the rolls of bolting cloth and crawling about on bags and 
sacking. To support this statement with facts, an experiment was 
conducted as follows: 
A bit of perfect bolting cloth three inches square was placed in ajar 
of grain and meal containing about a dozen adult Tenebroides, covered 
with the grain and meal, and left there for seventeen days. At the 
end of that time the cloth was taken out with four Tenebroides beetles 
clinging to it, and although its meshes were partly closed by flour it 
was as sound as when placed in the jar. A similar piece of uninjured 
bolting cloth was put into a jar also containing flour and meal and 
about half as many half-grown larvae of Attagenus, and in seventeen 
days, although only two larvae were found upon it. it contained no less 
than twenty-eight small holes, one of them an eighth of an inch square. 
Bolting cloth, as is well known, is the finest quality and most expen- 
sive silk fabric made, and the inroads of the Attagenus larvae necessi- 
tate almost constant mending and replacement with, new cloth. I have 
learned from at least three residents of thi^ city T that damage to bolt 
ing cloth of this nature has been noticed here and elsewhere for the 
past half century; also that this injury has been rather generally laid 
to the account of Tenebroides, which is known in some localities as the 
bolting-cloth beetle. Such a habit would be at variance with what is 
known of this insect, either as larva or beetle, and until positive proof 
is produced that it is the true culprit I can only conjecture as reason 
for the belief the fact that the Tenebroides is the commoner, the larger, 
and the more conspicuous insect." 
Brief history of the species in America. — Looking back over the 
records, I find that this species was recognized in America as early as 
1800, mentioned as abundant in houses in 1854, as injurious to feathers 
in 18G6, to insect collections in 1878, and to carpets in 1879. As a 
carpet pest it attracts most attention, but has also been reported as 
injuring haircloth furniture, and has been accused of doing damage to 
lace curtains. I quite agree with Dr. Lintner, who remarks of this 
insect in this last connection (Second Kept. St. Ent. X. Y.. 1885, p. 47): 
"If this suspicion is hereafter confirmed and its range of food found to 
embrace hair, furs, cotton, linen, and wool, then it is unquestionably a 
pest more to be dreaded in our homes than the rapacious and destruc- 
tive carpet beetle," and particularly as Hour and meal, seeds, and silk. 
not to mention feathers, leather, dried insects and probably many other 
preserved animal and vegetable substances are now to be added to its 
provision list. 
This notice is by no means the only one of the occurrence i^t' this 
species in cereals. In December, 1889, a correspondent at Craig, Mo., 
sent specimens of the larva which were found among the cocoons of 
Plodia interpunctella in corn in a flour mill see [nsect kite. Vol. 11. 
p. 277). Dr. Hamilton, in his two lists of Ooleoptera common to Europe 
11L>26— Xo. S L> 
