Two or three instances have come under my observation during the last twenty years, of most remarkable longevity in wood-boring species of Coleoptera, and especially of those belonging to the Longicornia; only one of which I will relate here, because it is the latest, and only reached its final development in the month of October 1876, or rather the denouement only occured near the end of that month.

In 1861, Mr. John Best, of this city, purchased a Cabinet Sewing Machine, the agent for the sale of which was then occupying premises of which I was the leaser, so that I am certain as to the year. Mr. Best has had the machine in his possession from that period up to the present time, and still possesses it. Very frequently during that long interval, and especially during last year, he, his wife and his family, heard a "ticking," or "clicking" noise, inside of the machine or in proximity to it, when it was not in motion; which they attributed to the ominous "Death-watch," which is said to be caused by species of Anobium; but I suppose any wood-boring species would produce a similar noise in penetrating hard wood, of which the sequel will be an illustration.

On the last day of October 1876, or the first day of November, Mrs. Best had occasion to open a bottom drawer that had never been previously used, and was surprised to find a large quantity of finely granulated debris or woody cuttings "like fine sawdust," as she described it, and upon examination she discovered that a portion of that side, and a large portion of the floor, or bottom of the Cabinet, had been excavated in irregular longitudinal burrows, with nothing but a thin shell of wood on the outside, which could be broken in, in some places, by the ordinary pressure of the thumb. On further exploration of this spongy wood, in one of the cavities, a single specimen of Hylotrupes bullatus, Hald, was found. The individual is a female, with a prominently exserted ovipositor, and was dead. The cabinet is made of black-walnut, but the drawers, and the inner casings are made of white-pine.

The insect was given to me, and I subsequently made a further exploration of the infested parts of the cabinet, but no other specimen was found, and therefore it seems conclusive that this solitary individual had been burrowing in that cabinet for fifteen or sixteen years at least; for there seems to be no room for the supposition that the egg had been deposited there after the cabinet was manufactured. I have never captured either Hylotrupes bullatus or bajulus in this locality, except in the vicinity of lumber yards, and therefore I have inferred that they have all been brought here from the pine regions, in timber or sawed lumber; and if so, the eggs of these insects must have been deposited in these articles before they were brought here, if notin the trees as they stood in their native forests, and therefore, that the longevity of the species I refer to may have been greater than the period I have suggested. I do not think however, that the normal longevity of bullatus is necessarily to be regarded as sixteen years; at the same time it is difficult to account for its long continuance in the wood of this cabinet, when a transverse cut of an eighth of an inch on either side would have extricated it from its confinement. Nor does is seem reasonable to suppose that the females became fertilized within the wood, and that one generation had succeeded another, even if a larger number had been found, instead of a single specimen. But, what were the causes of its retardation, if it was abnormally retarded? was it the absence of the necessary humidity? was it the quality of its food? We can hardly suppose it was the absence of the normal tem

perature, for sewing machines are usually kept in warm rooms during winter, and this we might suppose would rather be an accelerating than a retarding cause. Whatever the reasons for the phenomenon may be, such as I have related are the facts.

S. S. RATHVON.

Local Plant Catalogues.

Within two or three years past has sprung up a literature which promises not only to facilitate exchanges among botanists, but to give precision and definite purpose to botanical explorations, and to connect the results of such explorations, so as at no distant day to increase very largely our knowledge of botanical geography, and to throw much light upon questions of special and varietal differences.

It is to be hoped that such local catalogues may be multiplied, and that to render them of the greatest scientific value and practical use, the species may be numbered consecutively, so as to give at a glance the relative richness of different localities. It will also be well that notes respecting exact locality, time of inflorescence, station, &c., be added to an extent not inconsistent with moderate cost.

If every state and county, or perhaps every botanical district, could have such a catalogue, and if in addition every town could have its local collection of its flora and fauna, it would not only add greatly to the accuracy and extent of our scientific knowledge, but would do much to excite in the community, especially among the young, an interest in, and promote an acquaintance with the natural history of their own immediate localities. Field and Forest will be glad to notice any such catalogues that may come in its way.

Among the earliest, and altogether the most comprehensive, attractive in appearance, and decidedly extravagent in width of margin, had it not been the work of private generosity, is "A Catalogue of plants growing within thirty miles of Amherst College," by Edward Tuckerman, M. A., and Charles C. Frost, M. A.

Recalling the long and thorough explorations of these veterans, with the valuable aid of Rev. H. G. Jesup, Profs. Clark, Goodale, Hitchcock and others, since the publication of the first catalogue by Prest. Hitchcock in 1829, it need hardly surprise us to find here enumerated, of Phae

nogams 1185, Aerogens 60, Musci 190, Hepaticae 45, Characeae 7. Licheus 240, Fungi 1200. Making a total of over 2900 species, these figures being in round numbers, as the species are not numbered consecutively, an unfortunate lack, in an otherwise very satisfactory work. "Catalogue of the Phaenogamous and Acrogenous Plants of Suffolk County, Long Island," by E. S. Miller, Wading River, and H. W. Young, Aquebogue, P. O., Long Island." This contains Phaenogams 844 species, Acrogens 27 species, and embraces quite a number of rarities.

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Catalogue of plants growing without cultivation in the State of New Jersey, with a description of all the species of Violet found therein, &c.," by Oliver R. Willis, Ph. D." This catalogue, covering so wide and varied a domain, enumerates, about 1390 species of Phaenogams, 40 species of Acrovgens. Its species are not numbered consecutively, but the notes are interesting, and the list of localities valuable as far as it goes.

The Botanical Directory from the Bulletin is hardly up to the present time, and together with the directions to botanists and teachers, similar to those in every manual, adds more to the price than to the value. It is well printed, and will be a great assistance to any one making a trip to the Pine Barrens.

"Catalogue of the Flora of Nebraska," prepared by Prof. Samuel Aughey, Ph. D., of the University of Nebraska." The author of this catalogue, although apologizing for it, as an incomplete work, has here enumerated 1670 Phaenogams, 50 Acrogens, 220 Musci, Hepaticae and Lichens, 90 fresh water Algae; making 2030 in all. He accounts for this large number by stating what the catalogue clearly shows, that alike from the North, the South and the West, many peculiar species of those regions have migrated to Nebraska, while the general character of the flora is that of New England and the Northern tier of States.

"Contributions to the flora of Iowa. A catalogue of the Phaenogamous plants, prepared by J. C. Arthur, Charles City." This enumerates. 979 species, which are largely identical with those of the Eastern States. Ericacae and Orchidacae are conspicuously lacking in representatives. "Catalogue of the flora of the Wabash Valley, below the mouth of White River." Prepared by J. Schneck, M. D., Mt. Carmel, Illinois. This catalogue enumerates 630 species of Phaenogams, and 30 of

Acrogens. Quite a number of plants have crept up the Valley of the Mississippi and thence up the Ohio and the Wabash.

Two check lists of the Ferns of North America, one by Wm. Edwards, of South Natick, Massachusetts; the other by John Robinson, of Salem, Massachusetts, are worthy of notice, and are a help in making exchanges. J. W. CHICKERING.

The "Lubber" Grasshopper.

The following notes on the habits of this large grasshopper Romalia microptera, were jotted down from observations made in the Department of Agriculture two years ago: A few days ago I was surprised to find a large wardian case in my room swarming with little black grasshoppers, about half an inch long. At first I was not a little surprised, but recollecting that I had imprisoned in this case for a few days in the fall, two or three pairs of this grasshopper, which had been received from a correspondent in Florida, they were easily accounted for.

The female of this insect deposits her eggs, to the number of forty or fifty, in the soil. The eggs are linear in shape, somewhat resembling very small grains of oats, though perhaps less pointed at the end, and measuring probably a quarter of an inch or more in length. The eggs in our wardian case hatched about the 27th of February, but whether that is the usual date of hatching or the warmth of the room helped to develop earlier than is usual in a state of nature, I cannot say. The young grasshoppers are black, marked with bright red, and keep these colors through several moultings; the pupæ are also black, but the thorax is shaded and mottled with yellow or orange red, while the abdomen is banded and the hind thighs bordered with the same color. The mature insect is is nearly three inches in length, it is of a yellow color, barred and spotted with black. The wing covers are extremely short, reaching only half way to the extremity of the abdomen, and are, of course, perfectly useless for flight. The wingcovers in color are yellowish, barred and marked with black, and tinted with rosy-pink. The wings themselves are very small and are a beautiful brilliant carmine, edged with black.

The insect is quite common through the Gulf States, and at times is quite plentiful, and somewhat injurious on "truck farms," as it de