Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-04

the acton and eject OF each, and one OF
our duties is to file the records The in
sects sent to us samples are kept for
breeding purposes and to follow out what
we call their life histories. From these
life histories. which We record in detail,
the scientists make bulletins that arc is
sued at intervals and sent out to the To-
caht!es where the written-up insect
thrives''
Miss Ballinsel. here held up Tor inspec-
ton i shallow drawer which contained
methodical rows of pins. placed perpen-
dtcula-ly and suggesting so many fairy
persolas, whose first cardboard floor bore
an eldn inscription of the name of the
species the next the number. the third
the collectors name and in the tower
the honored bug. himself and such care
ful penmanship of careful hands, with
never a feck Of soil. but just as if the
classified majesties OF these little mum
mics had dWelt in the air, or been carved
of colored marble with infinite skill.
1t is very mistaken idea,' remarked
Miss Ballinger. that insects are unclean.
Most OF them are dainty as kittens in
their habits
Johnson playfuliy dug out Of jar of
sand fine. fat bug of high degree and
possessing distinction In the fact that ne
walked on his back instead OF his legs,
u
seemed quite conforted by the sage re-
mark that even babies in tac.r extreme
youth arc not beautiful, and what would
they be II u:cy walked on tacfr backs
And then, the exquisite colorinG--th.
blue and green and back and silver, har-
Inonies of certain motifs Was wonderful.
That is where the fashion FOLKS. must
have found the idea FOR some OF the
popular creations The butterflies i'll a
neighborins drawer We're expected to be
81 ed a
much. as they, too, stayed pinned. each
to. the top step of his little cardboard
stair. The beetles were quite tabernacle
and affected tWeeds or hairiine stripes,
and appeared quite substantial citizens.
of course Miss Johnson resumed.
the bulletins play tine greatest part.
These are sent to, the farmers to read.
They, in turn. send insects to be identi-
is then forwarded them. along with. the
name of the remedy for determination.
The potato-tuber moth is now receiving
much attention, as the potato crop in
the United States is short this year. and
every suggestion possible is given the
grover to aid him in getting rid of the
moths
Every insect sent into the bureau is
studied and kept and "a record made of
its life history. A new insect, from far
mer or field man, is examined Very close
ly.. from the egg stage to the larra, to
the pupa, then the adult stage 1t is re-
corded in the museum, and following
this. must be written up by the chief OF
the particular division through which
certain men in the country describe each
insect that is discovered The name of
the discoverer is usually given the dis
covered
Miss Ballinger. who, with a tiny pair
OF tWeezers, was poking around in a glass
jar Of sand she held on her lap, said that
the eggs whici, were developing on the
cabbage leaf she extracted and held up to
view had not yet been named, and that
they had been sent from Baton Rouge,
La.
They were sent in October %, by one
OF the field men in Louisiana The moths
had been feeding on sugar beets. The
eggs hatch about six days, after they ar
rive. when they are placed in this jar OF
sand. Everything is put into moist sand
to be determined ~
AT this moment the bug that walked
upside down, which had not been return
ed to hts cage, was observed performing
quite close to Miss Ballinger. who cares
more for bugs that have no clownish
characteristics. with the result that the
Baton Rouge possessions were treated
rather uncerenaoniously for the time.
Miss Johnson makes sort of pet of the
contortionist bug. and as she laughingiy
picked him UP and put him back in the