324 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. CONCERNING SOME OF THE FORMS A! IN BIRDS. lUMED BY THE PATELLA By DR. R. \V. SHUFRLDT, IT. S. A Vicq-d’Azyr saw in the patella a detached olecranon—the liomotype of the extensive process, so named—which is found at the proximal extremity of the ulna in the human subject, as it is in many other ver- tebrates. But what would this time-honored anatomist have to say for himself were he now standing at my side, and his opinion asked as to the nature of the bones of the limb which I have in my hand ? It is the complete skeleton of the right lower extremity of Centrocercus, taken from a bird of this species less than half grown. Several years ago I figured these very bones, and they may be seen in my Osteology of the Tetraonidse, plate ix, figure 67. In this limb neither the patella nor the calcaneal sesamoid has yet ossified, owing to the fact that the bird from which it was taken had not sufliciently advanced in age for this con- dition to have come about. In the memoir in question a large epiphysis was described as occupying the site of the future cnemial crest of the tibia, which part of the bone never becomes a very prominent feature in this bird even after it has become full grown. There seems to be no particular necessity for this accretion to ossify thus separately from the end of the tibia, yet it is found to be quite formidable in size, and as the fowl grows cartilaginous ridges that eventually become the pro- and ectocnemial processes of the tibia are seen upon its anterior face. In PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 325 mature birds its amalgamation with the leg-bone is complete, and not a trace of its original existence remains. As it seems to be superadded to the center which forms for the end of the shaft—an ossification found pretty generally among all vertebrates with well-developed limbs—I take it to be the homotype of the olecranon, and believe that Vicq- d’Azyr and his adherents on the patella question could soon be led to a similar conviction. This would be the more likely, as this old- time anatomist, to whom we have referred it, would quickly discover that we largely sided with him in a matter that still furnishes food for argument in present times. I refer to the mooted point of the anti- types of the bones of the extremities. Much has been written upon this subject; it has been well treated by Wyman in his paper u On the Symmetry and Homology in Limbs ” published in 1867. Three years later Prof. Elliott Coues ably handled the question of “Antero-posterior symmetry, &c.,” in a series of articles which appeared in the New York Medical Record in 1870. Here I think the difference between what is meant by homotypy, or serial homology, and antitypy is most satisfac- torily explained. Entirely opposite views in the premises are entertained by Huxley and Flower, while those anatomists nearly agreeing with the last-named were defended by Owen, thirty-four years ago, in his work “ On the Nature of Limbs.” The scope of this paper will not allow me more than a simple expression of opinion, and this is to the effect that I take the tibia to be the antitype of the ulna, as the fibula is of the radius. There is no doubt about femur and humerus. It is almost unnecessary to add, after what has been said above, that I regard the patella as a sesamoid, and see the homotype of the olecranon in the tuberosity of the tibia of the posterior extremity. Now, the patella in birds offers us some very interesting and varied forms, notwithstanding the fact that anatomists often complain of the lack of striking differences in the skeletons of this class. No doubt there is much truth in all this, still we find marked departures from a common type, when we come to group and exhibit together characters from widely separated forms. Quite recently I had the pleasure of examining the leg-bones and pa- tella of the type specimen of Aptenodytes pennantii used by Coues in his paper on u Material for a Monograph of the Spheniscidse.” (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., xxiv, 1872.) I give you a life-size drawing of these bones from the right limb of this Penguin, showing the great quadrate patella slightly raised above its'articulation with the tibia. In the same cut, A and B, are copies of different views of the patella of Eudyptes chrysocome, by Morrison Watson (Report on the Sphenis- cidce; Rep. Scien. Results of Exp. Voyage of H. M. S. Challenger, Vol. vii, PI. vii, Figs. 9 and 10, Zoology, 1883). In the magnificent work I refer to, Watson tells us that “ the patella is of exceptionally large size, and presents a somewhat peculiar form in the Penguins. In form it 326 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. resembles a wedge, the anterior or sharp margin of which is directed forwards, the base backwards towards the femur. The base of the wedge is broad, deeply concave, and adapted to the pulley-like surface of the lower end of the femur. The outer surface of the bone is for the most part smooth, but presents about its middle a deep and narrow groove, which, com- mencing in front at the middle of the anterior border of the bone, passes ob- liquely backwards, downwards, and outwards across the external surface. This groove accommodates the tendon of the “ ambiens ” muscle. The inner surface of the bone is smooth. The upper end of the patella is obliquely truncated, and affords insertion to the muscular fibers of the extensor cruris muscle, while the lower end, narrower and more irregular in form, is attached by means of very short ligamentous fibers to the anterior border of the upper end of the tibia. The patella presents essentially the same charac- ters in every species.” This descrip- tion answers very well for Aptenodytes, only this latter Penguin has the pa- tella much larger, as will be seen in the figure. In the great majority of birds wrhere a patella exists it is found to have the form of an oblate hernis- pheroid, with its base directed up- wards for insertion of the extensor cruris. A very good example of this is seen in our common eastern crow (Fig. 2), and it is this bird I have chosen to illustrate this style of patella in the figure (C). We find it associated in the cut with two other rather extraordinary patell®, that of Mergus serrator (D), and Sula bassana (E). The bone in the double patella of Mergus is of a very elementary character, indeed almost cartilaginous in appearance and consistence. This bird, we see, approaches very near not having any patella at all. The best example I have of this condi- tion is seen in two specimens of Hcvmatopus niger from the collections at the Smithsonian Institution. Here, in these birds, I fail to find the slightest trace of this sesamoid. Professor Marsh tells us that the patella of Sula is perforated by a large foramen for the passage of the tendon of the ambiens muscle, agreeing in this respect with the fossil bird Eesperornis (Ordontorni- Fig. 1.—Leg-bones and patella, right limb, of Aptenodytes pennantii-, life-size from nature. T, tibiaj F, fibula; P, patella; the last slightly raised above its articulation with tibia. (No. 11976, Smithsonian Collection.) By the author. A, patella of Eudypteg chry- socome (from Triston d’Acuha) outer sur- face, natural size. B, the same seen from in front (after Watson). PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 327 thes, page 93). I fail to find any such foramen in the patella of the specimen of Sula before me, although it has a shallow, oblique groove across its anterior face that seems to correspond with the one described when speaking of the patella of the Penguin. One of the most inter- esting and at the same time one of the most familiar to ns is the ar- rangement of these bones in some of the, divers. To illustrate the con- dition of things as they are in these birds, I have chosen and drawn the Fig. 2.—C. Femur and leg-bones of Corvus americanus showing the patella slightly in advance of its normal position. (Xo. 133, Collection in Army Medical Museum.) D. The same hones from Mergus serrator, showing the two elementary patellae surrounded hy ligament and about in their normal po- sition. (Xo. 16626, Smithsonian Collection.) E. Same bones from Sula bassana, with femur and patella thrown somewhat out of tlieir normal position. (Xo. 16643, Smithsonian Collection.) All the figures are life-size, chosen from the right limb, and F signifies femur; T, tibia; Fb, fibula, and P, patella throughout. Drawings hy the author. bones of the leg in Pordieps cornutum (Fig. 3), giving two different views. Probably no better example exists in all nature showing the coexistence of a patella with a prolonged cnemial crest of the tibia than we fine in Podiceps. When in position it is closely applied by its anterior surface to the posterior surface of the greatly produced rotular process already alluded to, extending somewhat above it, which exten- sion in some specimens is bent slightly forward. This strongly suggests the idea that the olecranon of the ulna can in noways be considered as being homologous with the patella, but only with the rotular process of the tibia; indeed, in each case I must agree with Coues in this matter, and regard these processes as mere exten- sions of the shaft of the bones in question. (The Medical Kecord, 1870, p. 194.) In the case of Colymbus a positive requirement is met, and that is to afford additional surface for the insertion of the extensores cruris, as well as affording greater leverage in the play of the limb. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. The relative proportions of these structures, however, differ very much in Podiceps and Colymbus. The patella in Podiceps probably contains actually more bone, that is to say, it is larger than the rotular process of the tibia; whereas in Colymbus, the rotular process of the Fig. 3.—Leg-hones and patella from Podiceps cor- nutum. F, the limb rotated slightly outwards. G-, a square lateral view. In the first the bones are in situ; in the second, femur and patella thrown backwards out of position. Lettering as before, witli a rotular crest of tibia. No. 1120, Army Med. Mus., life size. Drawn by the author from the specimen. Fig. 4.—Colymbus septentrionalis; life size; let- tering as in former figures. (Spec. 16628 Smith- sonian collection.) By the author. tibia is a very extensive prolongation upwards of the shaft, while the patella is reduced to a diminutive flake of bone, articulating above the base on its posterior aspect. This is well shown in my drawing of these parts, taken from a specimen of Colymbus septentrionalis (Fig. 4). The Loon, as another representative of the same genus, shows a like condition or arrangement of the structures involved, and we are all fa- miliar with the illustration, now so long on duty, given us by Professor Owen in the second volume of his Anatomy and Physiology of Ver- tebrates. In passing it may be as well to call attention to the fact, PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 329 already noted by the author just referred to, that the great pro- and ecto-cnemial ridges we observe on the anterior aspect of the rotular crest, and continued down the shaft of the tibia, may be present and highly developed without an extension of that crest above the proximal surface of the bone. A beautiful example of this I quite recently saw upon an exceptionally fine specimen of the fossil Gnemiornis, received a few weeks ago at the Smithsonian Institution. A bird that affords another very interesting condition of these parts, having a very small patella and a large procnemial process, though differing very much from Fig. 5.—Fulmarus rodgersii, nat. size; lettering the same. (No. 12612 Smithsonian collection). Showing the patella P in its normal position in this bird. By the author. Colymbm, is Fulmarus rodgersii, a good skeleton of which I find in the collection brought from Alaska by Mr. H. W. Elliott. After what has been written, no special description will be necessary of the drawing here presented, showing these bones in Rogers’ Fulmar. Some of the great Fig. 6.—Hesperornis regalis. $ nat. aize. Letters as before. (After Marsh.) extinct divers found in the Cretaceous beds of this country had a very big patella. For example, we find “the patella in Hesperornis regalis is a large bone, and entirely distinct from the tibia. In its general propor- 330 PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. tions it resembles the patella in Podiceps. It differs materially, how- ever, in being perforated by a large foramen for the tendon of the am- bicus muscle, agreeing in this respect with, the patella of the Gannet (Sula bassana, Briss.). The patella is much compressed transversely. Seen from side to side it is triangular in outline, and the outer surface is concave. When in position, its longer axis was nearly parallel with the axis of the tibia. Its lower extremity bears a large twisted articu- lar for the union with the femur, and the lower posterior half of the inner side is toughened for attachment to the cnemial spine. The position of the patella in the skeleton is shown in Plate XX. When at rest, it extended in front of the anterior margin of the ilium, and, by its muscular attachments, added greatly to the power of the poste- rior limbs in swimming. The superior extremity is obtusely pointed, and the outer margin is arcuate.” (Marsh, Odontornithes, p. 93.) In No. 41 of Science, I presented a lateral view of the leg-bones of a Cormorant (Phalacrocorax), showing the form of the patella in these Fig. 7.—Phalacrocorax bicristatus, seen from in front. Life size. Letters signify the same as in the other illustrations. By the author. birds. The same specimen is given here; only an anterior view is chosen instead of the lateral one. This form is a particularly interesting one, and I am not aware of any bird at present that can show a similar condition of the parts in ques- tion. On the face of it, it almost looks as if a patella had developed of a size equal to the rotular process, and subsequently the two became thoroughly united, and formed one large patella, articulating as shown in the drawings l have made of it. I do not say that this is actually the case, nor were the young of this specimen, which also belong to the col- lections at the Smithsonian Institution, of a proper age to determine exactly the manner in which this great bulky patella was developed. Some of the problems that are presented in the evolution of this sesa- moid no doubt will be found to be very interesting and instructive. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 331 Now, why is it that in three such forms as Podiceps, Colymbus, and Hes- perornis, all undoubtedly powerful divers, in the first we should have retained a patella fully as large as the extensive rotular process ; that in the second it has been reduced to a mere flake of bone and an im- mense rotular process retained; and finally, in their ancient ancestor we again find an enormously developed patella with a very considerable process on t he tibia ? Such questions will probably only be arrived at, if they are ever an- swered at all, by the most searching investigations into the anatomy, and more particularly the physiology, in such instances as these, of liv- ing birds. Palaeontology in such matters simply offers us the nuts to crack, as of course every vestige of the muscular system has disappeared in our fossil birds. OBSERVATIONS UPON A COLLECTION OF INSECTS MADE IN THE VICINITY OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, DURING THE YEARS 1882 AND 1883. \| While stationed in New Orleans during the autumn of 1882 and spring and the greater part of the summer of the ensuing year, all the time that could possibly be spared from other duties 1 devoted to making a collec- tion of the vertebrates and invertebrates of the region. This collection when brought all together consisted of some 2,500 to 3,000 specimens j circumstances existed, however, that prevented me from bestowing the attention upon it that it deserved, or systematically disposing of the ma- terial so hurriedly brought together. The major part of the insects that were taken were sent unassorted in alcohol to the Agricultural Department of Washington. They num- bered some five or six hundred, and were collected during the times specified over a limited tract of country lying south of, and just beyond, the city limits. Through the kindness of Prof. C. V. Eiley, I am enabled to present a tolerably colnplete list of these insects. All of the diagnoses were made under the direction of this gentleman, and lam further under great obli- gations to him for the interest he has taken in the matter, and other assistance so cheerfully given in connection with the collection. The first installment was forwarded on the 27tli of November, 1882, the specimens in it having been captured between the middle of the preceding month and that time. On the 5th of December I received from Professor Eiley the follow- ing determinations of this part of the collection: »K. K. W. SHIFELDT, U. S. A. I. COLEOPTERA. Laxandrus rectangulus Lee. 1 specimen. Diplochila laticollis Lee. 1 specimen. 332 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Dinentes carolinus Lee. 28 specimens. Pinophilus parcus Lee. 1 specimen. Passalus cornutus Fabr. 0 specimens. Dicerca obscura Fabr. 1 specimen. Ptychodes vittatus Say. 2 specimens. Opatrimus notus Say. 1 specimen. II. Hymenoptera. Polistes sp. ? 1 specimen. Polistes sp. ? 1 specimen. Monobia quadridens Linn. 1 specimen. Ichneumon insolens Cress. 1 specimen. III. Lepidoptera. Heliothis armigera ? Linn. 1 specimen. Euchcetes collaris Fitch. 2 specimens. IV. Hemiptera. Proxys punctulatus Beard. 1 specimen. Largus succinctus Linn. 1 specimen. Prionotus cristatus Linn. 1 specimen. fttenopoda culiciformis Stal. 1 specimen. Zaitlia fluminea Say (??•). 1 specimen. V. Orthoptera. Nemobius vittatus (?). 1 specimen. Gryllus sp. (larvae). 2 specimens. Gryllus sp. (larvae.) 2 specimens. Gryllotalpa sp. 1 specimen. Gonocephalus crepitans. 1 specimen. Xiphidium. 6 specimens. No. 29. Xiphidium (larvae). 2 specimens. Stenobothrus maculipennis. 2 specimens. Leptysma marginicolli Serv. 3 specimens. Pyrgomorpha punctipennis Thos. 2 specimens. Tragocephala vividifasciata. 15 specimens. Acridium obscurum Serv. 2 specimens. Tettyx sp. 1 specimen. Telligidea lateralis. 1 specimen. Amblytropidia subhyalina Scudd. 1 specimen. Periplaneta (?). 2 specimens. Forficula sp. 4 specimens. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 333 VI. Arachnids. Tetragnatha marginata Keys. Epeira Hentzii Keys. Epeira septima. Nephila plumipes. Miranda bombycinaria. Zilla hortorum. Theridium vulgare. Pholcus atlanticus. Tegenaria medicinalis. Filistata capitata. Dolomedes sexpunctatus. Lycosa scutulata. Lycosa venustula. Tarantula riparia. From November, 1882, to the latter part of February, 1883, the fol- lowing additional forms were added to the above list. Several other spiders were also taken, but at the present writing these have not yet been determined. I. Lepidoptera.. Saturnia io Tab. 3 larva}. Acronycta ablinita Sur. & Abb. 1 larva. jEcpantheria scribonia Stoll. 1 larva. II. COLEOPTERA. Passalus cornutus Fabr. 3 specimens. Harpalus pennsylvanicus De G. 1 specimen. Chalepus trachypygus Barm. 2 specimens. Tropisternus nimbatus Say. 2 specimens. Chilocorus bivulnerus Mills. 1 specimen. III. Orthoptera. Nemobius sp. 1 specimen. Gryllus sp. 1 specimen (larva). Blatta (?) sp. 1 specimen (larva). Unfortunately, during the most important part of the year, the spring of 1883, other matters engaged my attention, which made an unneces- sary and unsatisfactory drain upon my time. During the greater part of the month of May I was obliged to be absent in New York City, and lost in consequence all those observations so interesting and important to the zoologist and entomologist at this season. From June to August of this summer, however, ray collecting was resumed, and the following insects were added to my previous collections. This list completes all that I was enabled to do in this direction up to the present writing. Several forms and odd lots still remain in the hands of the Museum, which have not as yet been fully determined. If any new species remain to be described among these, such descriptions will now have to be post- poned until some future time. Should the remaining material upon ex- amination develop facts of sufficient interest, they will be embodied in a short report to supplement the above lists, and the following diagnoses, which were made up to August 7, 1883. 334 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. COLEOPTERA. Orig. No. 81. Tetracha Carolina. 89. Tetracha virginica. .110. Tetracha virginica. 77. Tetracha Carolina. 59. Plectrodera scalator. GO. Plectrodera scalator. 90. Plectrodera scalator. 49. Plectrodera scalator. 72. Dynastes tityus. 104. Dynastes tityus. 78. Alaus oculatus. 105. Alans oculatus. 106. Alaus oculatus. 14. Strategus julianus. 91. Strategus julianus. 79. Mallodon dasystomus. 76. Phanceus carmifex. 38. Euphoria melancholica. 61. Euphoria melancholica. 137. Euphoria melancholica. 82. Scarites subterraneus. 138. Scarites subterraneus. 32. Monocrepidius lividus. 27. Harpalus pennsylvanicus. 107. Ptychodes vittatus. 133. Acanthoderes quadrigibbus. 100. Cybister olivieri. 138. Epicanta lemniscata. 138. Cyclocephala immaculata. 109. Ligyrus rugiceps. Chalepush trachypygus. 134. Onthopagus hecate. 40. Anisotarsus maculicornis. 141. Goes pulchar. 97. Strategus julianus. 92. Mallodon dasystomus. 138. Cyclocaphala immaculata. 155. Tropistenuas nimbatus. February and March, 1883: Chlcenius nemorcetis. Poecilus chalcites. Platynus decorus. Orig. No. Aspidoglossa subangulata. Anisodactylus harpaloides. Saprinus assimilis. Sphenophorus placidus. March 1-20, 1883: Copris Carolina. Dicaelus splendidus. Chlcenius erythropus. Clilccnius rufipes. Pterostichus acutangulus. Amara impuncticollis. Chauliognathus marginatus. Nyctobates pennsylvanica. June 20, 1883: Cycloneda sanguinea. Aphodius stercorosus. Chauliognathus marginatus. Onthophagus pennsylvanicus, Ischyrus quadripunctatus. Stenolophus ochropezus. Disonyclia pennsylvanica. Heterocerus collaris. Hylesinus aculeatus. July 18, 1883: Onthophagus hecate. Platynus punctiformis. Brachinus sp. Neoclytus erytliroccephalus. Eupsalis minuta. Philhydrus ochraceus. Callida punctata. Buprestis rufipes. Lebia analis. Orthostethus infuscatus. Bhyssomatus lineaticollis. CEme rigida. July and August, 1883: Phileurus truncatus. Calosoma scrutator. -Creophilus villosus. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL. MUSEUM. 335 Orig. No. Allorhina nitida. Plioturis pennsylvanica (date lost). lUabrotica duodeeimpunctata. Orig. No. Loxandrus rectus. Platynus mcereus (?). Pinophilus latipes. Gryptobium latebricola. LEPIDOPTERA. 54. Danais archippus. 52. Actias luna. 55. Hyperchiria io. 53. Sarnia cecropia. 51. Philampelus vitis. 139. Ghrerocampa tersa. 140. Eudamus proteus. 47. Psychomorpha epimerus. HYMENOPTERA. 85. Xyocopa virginica. 93. Pelopceus cementarius. 35. Pelopceus cementarius. 136. Pelopceus cementarius. 135. Pompilus ferrugineus. 64. Pompilus ferrugineus. 88. Polistes bellicosus. 112. Sphex tibialis ? 115. Polistes sp. 113. Monobia quadridens. 129. Melissodes sp. 116. Pelopceus cceruleus. 111. Polistes annularis. 128. Apis mellifica. 114. Scolia nobilitata. 125. Gerceris bicornuta. 44. Gamponotus pennsylvanicus. 46. Gamponotus melleus. Scolid nobilitata. Pompilus americanus. Polistes americanus. Polistes sp. Labena grallator. Mutilla castor. Bom bus pennsylvanicus. Xylocopa virginica. Mutilla occidentals. Sphex ichneumonea. Pompilus ferrugineus. Polistes metricus. Polistes bellicosa. Stizus grandis. ORTHOPTERA. 67. Gryllotalpa borealis. 99. Gryllotalpa borealis. 29. Xiphidium sp. 19. AmbbycorypJia oblongifolia. 96. Gonocephalus ensiger I 138. Gonocephalus ensiger (larva). 123. Tragocephala viridifasciata. Galopterus bivittatus (1 pupa). Galopterus femur-rubrum. 131. Mesops chlorizans. 123. Stenobothrus maculipennis sp. 24. Galopterus fioridanus Thos. sp, 83. Tettigidea lateralis. 20. Acridium americanum. 95. Acridium americanum. 65. Periplaneta americana. 138. Periplaneta americana (larva). Orchelimum glaberrimum. July, 1883: (Ecanthus latipennis. 24. Paroxya Jloridana. Platyphyllum concavum. Romalea microptera. 336 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. DIPTEKA. Orig. No. 31. Tabanus atratus. 37. Tabanus abdominalis. Tabanus ruficornis. 130. Tabanus sp. Tabanus sp. 22. Erax striola. Orig. No. ' 132. Stratiomys sp. Erax striola Lw. Anthrax sp. Chrysops sp. Lucilia ccesar. HEMIPTERA. 75. Proxys punctulatus. 138. Proxys punctulatns. 98. Cicada pruina. 103. Cicada pruina (pupa) 102. Cicada pruina. G8. Cicada pruina. 12G. Stonopoda cinerea. Perthostoma aurantiaca. Aulacizes irroratus. NEUROPTERA. 62. Agrion sp. 138. Agrion sp. Mesothemus longipennis. Anax lieros. Anax sp. Libellula, 2 spp, Agrion, 2 spp. MYRIOPODA. 70. Cermatiaforceps. AEACHNIDA. 87. Filistata capitata. 138. Nephila plumipes. During the month of August several people, observing the interest I took in the insects of the country, brought me many specimens col- lected from the same range frequented by myself. On the 10th of that month a young man brought me a single living specimen of a luminous elaterid larva. His captive appeared so curious and rare in his eyes that he demanded the price of five dollars for it. This I was hardly able to afford, and the collector allowed his specimen to perish before he would accept anything less for it. Strange to say, his first demand was three times this amount. The specimen was taken at Covington, La., in the eastern part of the State, and nearly due east of New Orleans. My examination of it was quite limited and in the evening, but suf- ficient to satisfy me that it answered very closely to the description given of a specimen by Samuel F. Clarke, of Baltimore, Md., in a letter published in an article upon the subject by Professor Riley in the third volume of the American Entomologist, page 201. This fig- ure represents the appearance of this interesting larva so well that I take the liberty of reproducing it. From the article j ust referred to, I quote the following information. The author states that, “ We have PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 337 Vol. VII, Wo. 3*1. Washington, D. C. Sept. 4, 1884. on several occasions found this luminous larva in Missouri, usually in cellars, and have in vain endeavored to rear it to the perfect state. The accompanying figure, made some years ago for an article on lumin- ous larvae, not yet published, will serve to indicate its character, and Luminous larva: a, dorsal view; 6, do., in dark; c, prob- able parent—nat. size; d, bead of larva; e, leg of same—en- larged (after Riley). the beautiful appearance it presents in the dark. We think Baron Osten-Sacken right in conjecturing this larva to be that of Melanactes; yet, when Packard, in his “Guide,” speaks of his figure 426 as that of Melanactes without qualification, he conveys a wrong impression, since no one has ever decided the matter positively by breeding. u There is another larva occurring in the more northern States, which has very much the same appearance and the same phosphorescent pe- culiarities, but which is seldom half as large as that which you send, and which we figure. Both Mr. E. P. Austin and Mr. B. P. Mann, who have studied this northern form, believe that it belongs to Asaphes, and probably A. memnonius, being led to this conjecture by the presence of Melanactes in Kew England.”* * Prof. C. Y. Riley tells me that since writing what I have here quoted from him his opinion has changed, and he now believes that this larva is not elaterid but lam- pyrid, belonging probably to Dendrodes.—R. W. S. Proc. Nat. Mus. 84 22 338 * PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. During the year I made many observations upon the habits of that very interesting form, the Rhomalea microptera. The results of these 1 have already published with a plate giving figures of the male and female insect, in Science, vol. 2, December 28, 1883. I have nothing further to add here connected with the life-history of this insect from my own observations. In the early spring months I collected many of the larvae of that great brown beetle, the Strategus julianus, so abundant in and about the city. The larvae are of a very large size, of a pale cream color, with coffee-colored heads. They are usually taken under old logs and boards, in dry places. Many of these 1 kept during the summer, and in numerous instances succeeded in rearing them through the various stages to the perfect insect. This requires several months, but no spe- cial care beyond imitating their surroundings in nature. A good his- tory of Strategus julianus is given in the Mexican u Naturaliza ” by Eugene Duges, rendering it unnecessary for me to dwell further upon it here. Tiger beetles made their appearance about the 10th of June, and the two forms of this beautiful genus (Tetracha) that 1 captured were not uncommon after that date, in the open pathways through the fields and parks. About the same time my collectors commenced bringing in specimens of Plectrodera sealator, that large black and white beetle which forms such a striking object in the entomological fauna of the State, more so, even, than Bynastes tityus, which is not so common, but far exceeds it in point of size. During the day time specimens of Mallodon dasys- tomus were rarely taken, but after dark, when lights were lit in the houses, this insect very often entered through the open windows. I have frequently at such times taken three or four on the same evening* Either from their rarity or my ill-fortune in not coming across them, I found Acanthoderes quadrigibbus, Onthophagus hecate, and Goespulcher to be among the rarest of the Coleoptera. Indeed, of the latter two I found but one of each during the entire summer. One of the most numerous insects is Euphoria melancholica, and num- bers of them are sure to be captured on every excursion. Mud-daubers are particularly abundant and a great nuisance, as they construct nests in many places, both in the houses and under eaves and porches on the outside. These nests, when broken up, are often good places to find the dead spiders that have been stowed away in them by the owners. Among the Diptera, the undetermined species marked 132 of the genus Stratiomys was apparently of very rare occurrence. My entire collection contains but one specimen. A good representative collection of the dragon-flies of the region, and the species are numerous, were destroyed by ants during my temporary absence from the city for a few days, and I was unable to replace them, as the time had gone by.