342 
of even local fauna will be of value in many parts of the country. In 
the Locus tidae Mr. Blatchley describes 39 species, and his descriptions 
are so full and careful that by their use identification will be easy. He 
follows with the record of 12 species whose distribution is such that 
they will probably be found in future in Indiana. Under the he?d of 
the Blattidae he describes with equal care seven species, five of which 
are indigenous. 
CATALOGUE OF THE DRAGON-FLIES. 
Mr. P. P. Calvert's Odonata of the Vicinity of Philadelphia, with an 
introduction on the study of this group of insects, extracted from the 
Transactions of the American Entomological Society (vol. xx, pp. 
150 a-272), is a pamphlet which should be in the bauds of all general 
collectors of insects. The handsome and interesting group of Dragon- 
flies has been neglected by students of American entomology, largely 
for the reason that such a publication has been lacking. The paper 
is evidently prepared with great care. 
LIFE-HISTORY OF THE CHICKEN DERMANYSSUS. 
An inquiry from Prof. F. L. Washburn, Entomologist to the State 
Experiment Station, Corvallis, Oreg., has reminded us that the life 
history of Dermanyssus gallince is not well known. This species is now 
comparatively common in certain sections of this country and its life 
affords a field for investigation. 
Its larva is hexapodous. The adult mite is egg-shaped, posterior 
end largest, and is slightly flattened; the abdomen is margined with 
short bristles ; the color varies from yellowish to dark red, depending 
on whether it is in a fasting condition or charged with blood. The 
oviparous female is .70 mm long by .40 mm broad. The male is .60 mm by 
.32 mm . It infests domestic birds, poultry, etc., and also wild birds 
which nest about barns and outhouses, such as swallows. When 
abundant it also attacks horses and other mammals, producing a 
sort of scabies. A peculiarity of the habits of this insect is that its 
attacks are always temporary, or practically so, in that it abandons 
its host during the daytime and conceals itself about the premises in 
which the animals are kept. In the case of poultry it collects in col- 
onies of males, females, and nymphs on the roosts, and frequently in 
the case of horses remains in the blankets or about the stalls. In 
poultry the attacks are severe and result in consumption and death. 
The mite is very prolific, multiplying quickly, although the exact 
period is not mentioned. The remedies consist in the removal of all 
poultry from stables and barns and the destruction of all nests of swal- 
lows, pigeons, etc. The treatment of poultry houses consists in the 
application of oils or other well-known insecticides adapted for such 
purposes. 
