Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-11-27
OUR LOCAL SClENTISTJ.
Monlhly Aseting Of the Llnnpan socist,

MOnlhly Meeting Of the Llnnoan Society.
The LinnHan society met in the museum
room on Saturday, November 2j, 1882
Prof. J. 5. Stahr the president in the chair
Prof. J. s. Stair, Prof. S. s. Rathvon, 5
Nj. :oener, Mrs. Zell, Mrs. Lefevre and two
| visitors in attendance. After reading tn,
| minutes of the previous meetiuy and col
lecting dues the following donations to thu
museum weIe received:
Donations 10 tho Museum.
A pint bottle of spirits containing two
large csntipedes (Seolopendra Aeros),
q "palinated cricket" (S.sxopalmafa
talpa) and 4 'camel cricket - (Mautis
Carolina) from tho vicinity of Carson.
Mitchell county, Tex, and donated by
Mr.: II. A. Rathvon, of Carson, Tex.
These centipedes are the largest species
among the MyRIAPoDs, although occasion.
ally larger specimens may be found. In
their prescE. contracted form they meas
ure fully eight inches in length, but il
living, and the se.mentS naturally re-
laxed and expanded, they would measure
! at least ten inches in length These ami
| mails are no doubt poisonous, but il is
probable that many of the stories pub
lished about their venOmous qualities are
fabrications or exaggerations. Each foot
is terminated by a sharp bent spine, and
when they run over any exposed parts OF
the human body they leave two rows of
dimpled spots which soon become in.
famed.
Tho palinated cricket, as its namo i'm.
plies, is related to tho "mOle- cricket" of
which VIC have one or two species in Ian.
caster county. This insect in Californis
is called the ''potatO cricket,' and, when
numerous, is said to be very destructive
TO the potato tubers in tho ground exca-
waiting them, and forming large burrows
in them. and thus depreciating their Gull
nary value. Some years ago gentleman
IN Sacramento valley sent number for
Identification, and represented them as
destroying his potato crop. Their semi
palinated anterior feet seem to indicate
that they arc 5urrOwing insects, feeding
on roots and tubers. They belong to the
family GRyILIDC in the order ORTHoP.
TERRA.
The camel cricket is called " Devils
uOrD,' in Texas. Professor Townsend
Glover named it Rear-horse" in one of
his reports before the war. In Europe it
Is called tho " Praying Mantis," but if an
"e'' was substituted for the ca it would
more nearly express it's character, for it is
perhaps, the only orthopterous insect that
preys upon other insects. Its large and
stout anterior raptorial legs explain its
character. It assumes grave attitude,
seemingly IS il in prayer, but it is only
lying in wait for III unwary fly or some
other soft insect which it captures and
devours.
Specimen Of 8" Mole Cricket" by DR.. NJ,
l.. Davis ; specimen of steatite from Lam
caster county, by Master II. Halbaugh
two specimens Of superannuatetl currency,
and box Of Indian darts by Mr.. Bsates Of
Midaletown, Pa.
Donations to Library.
Two pamphlets and the Lancaster Far
mer for November; Is catalogues of books,
Patent Office Gazetts vol. % Nos.17 and 20
and index Of patentees for 1881, package
OF Iii Centennial papers, and envelope of
cuttings, Prof. s. s. Rathvon
read an interesting paper on tho "MyRIA-
roDA' suggested by the donations to the
museum. Prof. Il. K. Buehrle was pre.
sent and signed the constitution and by
laws and paid his initiation fee. After pass.
ing an hour or moro in scientific gossip, it
was resolved to adjourn until the carly
part ct January for holding our next meet
ing instead of December, on account of
the holidays, and that notice of the time
Of holding the meeting DO given at tho call
Of the secretary. A large attendance is
desired at the next meeting as it is the
meeting.