266 
Reply. — * * * The insect proves to be a Tineid larva not represented in the 
collection of the National Mnseum. Your account of your experience with it in 
Syria is an interesting one. "While knowing nothing of the habits of the insect in 
question other than what you have told me, I should say that the remedy ordinarily 
used against book mites, namely, the abundant application of pyrethrum powder, 
would avail against it. Most book mites and pests affecting libraries and records 
are chiefly injurious in moist situations, and, if care be taken in the matter of dry- 
ness in libraries and on bookshelves, the danger is much lessened. — [September 2, 1892.] 
The Cheese Skipper Injuring Hams. 
There was an interesting article in last Insect Life on ' ' The cheese or meat 
skippers,"' but the author does not state whether the young skippers are able to 
penetrate the bags in which hams are put ; if they can, there is no use in taking the 
trouble to bag them. 
We smoke the bacon almost a month with hickory chip fires, occasionally using 
sulphur; about March 1 we bag them, rubbing them over with black pepper before 
putting in bags. If after hot weather comes on we find any skippers, we sun them, 
which brings the skipper to the surface and kills them. We smoke occasionally 
with sulphur during the summer on still damp days. But with all this care we find 
some hams injured, especially if mice have cut holes in bags and meat. 
Skippers do not attack shoulders or middlings to any extent; we do not bag 
these. If they only attack smoked meat had we not better omit smoking, the 
value of which is doubtful ? 
I think that Cincinnati ham-curers dip their hams in pyroligneous acid. — [A. G. 
Grinnan, Virginia, December 25, 1893. 
Vegetarian Mosquitoes. 
I have just read a notice by A. A. Eaton, of California, concerning vegetarian 
mosquitoes. I have often seen mosquitoes feeding on vegetable substances here. 
The first I particularly remember was about fifteen years ago, when I noticed that 
the rinds of some watermelons that had just been removed from the table were 
thickly covered with mosquitoes, evidently highly enjoying their desert. Since then 
I have frequently seen mosquitoes on cut fruit, though I do not think I ever saw 
them puncture the rind. — [Frances M. Slack, Massachusetts, October 13, 1893. 
A Cat Warble. 
I write to inquire concerning an insect the larva of which is parasitic on cats. 
have only observed one case, the description of which is as follows : The larva ig 
oval in shape, about an inch or seven-tenths of an inch long, and at least three- 
tenths of an inch thick. The color would be white, bat the insect is covered with 
small black excrescences, and so appears brownish black. It burrows under (or per- 
haps the egg is laid under) the skin, in exactly the same manner as the larva of th( 
common " gad-fly" does on cattle. In the one case I have seen, the location of th< 
insect was on the belly of the cat, but I have been told of a case where the larva 
was in the eye-lid. I have also been told that what anpears to be the same insect is 
often noted as parasitic on the gray squirrel — [Barry C. Hawkins. North Carolina, 
September 8, 1893. 
Reply. — I have never heard of a subcutaneous bot in the domestic cat before, and 
without seeing the larva or the fly can not determine the species. It is likely that it 
may be the same species which commonly affects squirrels and gophers throughout 
this conntry, viz, Cuterebra emasculator Fitch, an account of which you will find in 
Insect Life, Vol. I, p. 214, a copy of which is sent you by accompanying mail. It 
may, however, be the Rabbit Bot (Cuterebra cnniculi), or still another species. The 
facts which you give are very interesting, and if you can secure specimens of this 
larva it will give us great pleasure to examine it. — [September 13, 1893.] 
