LiBkis ClOKkg . \ Presented to J. F. GATES CLARKE BY THE ROBERT L. WEBSTER PuuuMAN. Washington 19 so AmerigAna PUBLISHED BY THE AT BROOKLYN, N. Y. ^^ iQ> VOL. IV.-^APRIL to DECEMBER, 1888. EDITOR : Rev. Geo. D. Hulst, 15 himrod street, Brooklyn, N. Y. ' . asst. editor: Chris. H. Roberts, 11 WEST 123rd STREET, New York. AmerigAna VOL I¥. BROOKLYN. ilPRIL, 1888. NO. 1, A Preliminary List of the Myriapoda of Arkansas with Descriptions of New Species. By Chaklks H. Boi.i.max. fPublished by permission of John C, Brannkk, Stiite Geologist of Arkansas.) 1. Platydesmus Lecontei (Wood). One was found on the grounds of the Deaf Mute AsyUim and others on the hills along the river, near Little Rock. 2. Julus minutus (Brandt). I found a specimen in the swamp at south end of Main Street, Little Rock. Mr. Hutcherson also found one near Argenta. 3. Spirobolus marginatus (Say). Abundant throughout the state. 4. Parajulus caesius BoUman. Julus ccesius Wood, Proc. Phila Acad. Nat. Sci., 43, 1867 (Texas). This species is not uncommon throughout the state. 5. Cambala annulata fSay). I have received nuinerous specimens of this species, collected around Little Rock by Mr. Hutcherson. 6. Lysiopetalum lactarium (Say). Common throughout the state. 7. Campodes flavicornis Koch. Campodes Jlavicorms Koch, Syst. derMyr. , 126, 1847 (P^-)- Campodes fusicornis Koch, Syst. der Myr., 127, 1847 (Pa.). Spirostrephon ca'sioamiulatus Wood, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc, 194, 1865 (Alleghany Co., Pa.); Ryder, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 526, 1880. Pseiidotremia viidii Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. , 180, 1869 (Montgomery Co., Va.); Ryder, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 527, 1880. Cryptotrichus desioarmulatus Packard, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc, 190, 1883 (Culmana, Ala., or Ocean Springs, Miss. ). A single specimen was obtained at Little Rock. As this species has a number of synonyms, I have thought it best to give its synonomy. 8. Craspedosoma flavidum sp. nov. Yellowisli Imovvii, feet and antennce liijhter. Robust, segments not constrict .^d, lateral carinse small and body strongly resembling that oi Campodes . Antennse longer than width of body. Ojelli 12-14, di-thict, arranged in a triangular patch and in 5 or 6 series. Dorsal plates rather smooth, setigerous granules small, seta; rather large. Male feet crassate, those of feinale slender. Length of body 5.8 mm.; vviilth .7 mm. Hab. — Okolona. This species strongly resembles a Campodes. In life the individuals are a dusky yellow. This description is based upon a male and female. g. Craspedosoma carniatum Bollman. Not common in the Fourche bottoms, south of Little Rock ; also found on the grounds of the Deaf Mute Asylum. 10. Leptodestnus hispidipes (Woodj. Abundant everywhere. Very common throughout the State. All specimens obtained were young, but the shells of many adults were found. 11. Euryurus evides Bollman. Faradesmus evides, Bollman, Ent. Amer., II, 229, 1887 (Winona, Minn.). Common over the State. Specimens agree with those from Minn. 12. Chaetaspis albus Bollman. Chcetaspis albus, Bollman, Ent. Amer., Ill, 46, 1887 (Blooming- ton, Ind.). One specimen obtained at Little Rock. 13. Polydesmus minor sp. nov. Dark shining brown, lighter beneath. Moderately slender, depressed, slightly acuminate anteriorly and posteriorly, smooth, very sparsely pilose (setigerous). An- tennn; equal to width of body, subclavate. First dorsal plate wide, angles not or but slightly produced , not toothed, tubercles not distinct, except lateral. Other dorsal —3— plntos witli posterior angles prockiced, especially posteriorly ; lateral margins three or four toothed, indistinct posteriorly, tubercles distinct, arranged in two rows of four each, anterior border indistinctly div'ded into two, po.-teiiorly, the last row of tub- ercles project beyond border of segments. Legs long, crassaie in male. Male : copulation foot very simi ar to .wrrciius ; ventral plates produced into a short, pilose lobe anteiioily. Length of body lo — 14 mm., \\!tl;h 1.5 1.8 mm. Hab.— Little Rock. This species is described from a number of specimens found in the low lands, south of Little Rock. 14. Polydesmus pinetorum, sp. nov. Very similar to P. serratus, but the general color paler and sizj smaller. Tuberculation not So tlistinct, sides ot first segment i toothed, other distinctly 3 or 4 ioo;hed. La>t row ol scales on posterior segments composed of six or eight setae tipped scale-, which project beyond border of Segments. Veniral plate of ninth pair of legs not produced as in scrraius, copulation foot vei'y similar. Length of body 15 to 18.5 mm.; width 2.2 to 2.8 mm. Hab.— LittL- Rock, Arkadclphia, Okolona, Alurfree-b j;o, and Ultima Thiile. As already indicated, this species is closely related to serrahis. It is principally separated by its smaller size and form of the ventral of ninth pair of legs of male. Fhis species may only represent a geographical form o{ serrahis. It is very abundant throughout the state, and all those collected during the su'umer were in the larva stages. I am indebted lu ]Mr. Hutcherson for adult specimens. 15 Fontaria virginiensis (Drury). Abundant at Donaldson, common at Okolona. Specimens from Arkansas are similar 10 those from North Carolina, but those from northern parts of Mississippi valley represent geographical species. At Donaldson the adults were found crawling on the surface of the ground in company with a large number of their young, probably one adult to five or eight hundred young, then (Jul_\- 11, 1887) about half grown. This species seems to be more confined to river bottoms, and low rich woodlands. The odor of prussic acid is strongly emitted by this species through a series of pores on each side of the body. 16. Sphseriodesmus pudicus sp. nov. General color pinkish, especially posteriorly, anterior half of segments darkest, a black median dorsal line, antennoe dark, legs pale. Body widest and highest an- teriorly, tapering posteriorly, smooth, setce absent. Vertex smooth, somewhat sul- cate. AntenniE subclavate, about equalling width of body. Dorsal plates smooth, tour preceding the last with an indistinct row of obtuse scales ; lateral plates except — 4— the first, antepenult and penult witli their posterior margin serrate. Anal plate triangular with the angles rounded, sparsely pilose. Legs long and slender, extend- ing beyond sides of body. Male : ventral plate of second pair of legs produced into two short cones ; coxte of second and third pairs more pilose than others ; copulation foot much twisted, end expanded and divided, pilose. Length of body 7 mm.; width 2 mm. Hab. —Little Rock and Okolona. This is the first lime that any species of this genus has been found in the United States. Il is easily distinguished from ^S". rnexicamis (Saussure), by having a few scales on posterior dorsal plates. The collection contains two specimens of this species. 17. Polyxenus fasciculatus Sny. Common at Little Rock, five were obtained at Antoine and one at Ultima Thule. 18. Pauropus lubbockii Packard. A few specimens were obtained at Little Rock. 19. Linotaenia bothriopa (Wood). I have received one specimen that was collected near Little Rock by Mr. Hutcherson. 20. Linotaenia robusta (Meinert). Sco/io/>/i7 nes rodus/us Meinert, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, 224, 1886 (.?N. A.). Frontal plate present. Fulvous, head and antennae dark. Not robust, attenuated anteriorly and posteriorly ; moderately smooth, sparsely pilose. Prehensorial feet smooth, sparsely pilose ; sternum subcordiform, length and width subequal ; coxae a little wider than long, unarmed ; tooth strong, acute ; claw small, a little curved. Cephalic plate somewhat wider than long, smooth, sparsely pilose, sides strongly rounded, slightly diverging, posterior margin only covering a small part of basal, plate, basal plate two-thirds as long as cephalic, twice as wide as long. Antenna; moderately short, articles short, penult and antepenult not noticeably shortened. Dorsal plates subsmooth, anterior prescuta short, median and posterior long. Spiracles round, very small. Ventral plates with an obsolete median foveola, pores on posterior margin. First pair of legs short, posterior longer than anterior. Posterior coxa; moderately inflated, pores about 12 to 18, small, in three series ; last ventral plate triangular, small, sides moderately converging. Posterior pair of legs longer than penult, crassate in the male, slender in the female ; claw large. Pairs of legs of male 51—55 ; of female 54—59. Length of male 27 -33 mm.; of female 34-52 mm. Hab.— Little Rock, Okolona, Arkadelphia and Ultima Thule. I refer this species provisionally to Z. robusta (Meinert), although it differs from Meinert's description by rather unimportant characters. I have also seen specimens of this species from Tennessee. 21. Linotaenia branneri sp. nov. Frontal plate present. Fulvous, head and antennae dark. Robust, strongly at- tenuated anteriorly, less posteriorly ; moderately smooth, sparsely pilose. Prehensorial —5— feet smooth, sparsely pilose ; sternum subcordiform, wider than long (5:3); cox?e wider than long, unarmed ; tooth strong, acute ; claw large, curved. Cephalic plate subquadrangular, sides rounded, slightly diverging posteriorly ; basal plate about half as long as cephalic, twice as wide as long, anterior margin scarcely covered by cephalic plate. Antennae long, joints moderate, penult and antepenult longer than wide. Dorsal plates moderately smooth ; anterior and posterior prercuta moderate, median larger. Spiracles round, moderately large. Ventral plates with a disinct median sulcus ; pores on posterior part. First pair of legs moderately short, anterior and posterior subequal. Posterior coxae strongly inflated, pores large and small, about twelve. Anal legs of the female slender, claw large. Pairs of legs of female 43. Length of female 37 mm. Hab. — Little Rock. This species is named in honor of Dr. J. C. Branner, State Geo- logist o( Arkansas. The collection contains one specimen of this species. It is related to bothriopa, but is distinguished by a smaller number of legs and its large posterior coxa and pores. 22. Geophilus perforatus (McNiell). Schendila perforaius, McNiell, Proc.' U. S. Nat. Mus., 325, 1887 (Pensacola, Fla. ). Abundant throughout the State. 23. Geophilus okclonae sp. nov. Frontal plate absent ; anal pores absent. Fulvous, head and antennae darkest. Rather slender, very slightly attenuated anteriorly and posteriorly, smooth, very sparsely pilose and punctate. Prehensorial feet smooth, punctate, sternum wider than long (4:3.5); coxa of about equal length and width, unarmed ; claw moderately curved ; teeth almost obsolete. Cephalic plate slightly longer than wide, suboval, posterior margin truncate, sparsely punctate and pilose ; prebasal plate expose! ; basal plate much wider than long (5:2). Antennae short, penult and antepenult joints not noticeably shortened. Dorsal plates distinctly bisulcate. Anterior spiracle rather large, oval, oblique, median and posterior smaller. Ventral plate with an indistinct median sulcus ; pores not manifest. First pair of legs short, anterior and posterior subequal. Posterior coxa scarcely inflated, pores absent ; last ventral plate wide, side moderately converging, not densely pilose. Anal legs produced, armed, rather densely pilose beneath, crassate. Pairs of legs of male 61 ; of female 63. Length of body 40 mm. Hab. — Okolona. There are two adults of this species in the collection. It is separated from other North American species by having no coxal pores and the pre- basal plate exposed. 24. Geophilus salemensis Bollman. I have seen one specimen that was collected near Little Rock by Mr. Hutcherson. 25. Cryptops hyalinus Say. Cryptops hyalina Say, Journ. Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci., Ill, 1820 — 6— (E. Florida); Sa\', OeuvresEnt., sp. 3, 1822; Newport, Trans. Linn. Soc, 409, 1844; Newport, Cat. Myr. Brit. Miis. Chil., 60, 1856; Wood, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc, 168, 1865 ; Underwood, Ent. Amer. , 65, 1887. Cryptops hyalimis Koch, Syst. d. Myr., 175, 1847 ; Gervais, Apteres, IV, 293, 1847. } Cryptops mi/berti CjitwA\s, Apteres, IV, 592, 1847 (New Jersey). } Crypfops 7)iilbeiiii\Nood, Trans. Amer. Pliilos. Soc., 168. 1865 ; Underwood, Ent. Amer., 65, 1887. Crjp/ops as/enpes Wood, Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., 129, 1867 (Montgomery Co., Virginia); McNiell, Proc. U. S. Nat. Museum. 326, 1887 (Pensacola, Fla. ); Underwood, Ent. Amer., 65, r887. Cyyp/ops su/ca/us Me'men, Proc. Amer. Philos. Sijc. , 211, 1886 (Bee Spring, Ky.); Underwood, Ent. Amer., 65, 1887. The study of a large series of specimens of the genus Cryplops has convinced me that all the species of Cryptops described from North America belong to a single species — hyalinus Say. 1 have questioned ilie Cryptops inilbcrti of Gervais, because the author states that the spines of the last pair of feet are absent. This character is contrary to the true definition of Cryptops and I am inclined to think that either Gervais had an abnormal specimen or that his ob- servations were incorrect. Asperipes W.ood, has been separated from the other species by the number of antennal joints (19), which he assigned to his species, but as the number of joints has recently been found to be variable it is not a true character upon which species can be based. In Ent. Amer., 65, 1887, Dr. Underwood says the last pair of legs of 5?//6w/«5 Meinert, are unarmed, as in milberti Gervais, but in this he is mistaken, for, in his generic description Dr. Meinert states that the last pair of legs are armed with a definite number of spines. Considering this state of characters, I believe that all the described species should be united under C. hyalinus. I have examined specimens of this species from the following States : IMaryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, Indian Territory, and Ar- kansas, where it is very common. 26. Theatops spinicaudus (Wood). Abundant from Little Rock to Ultima Thule. 27. Scolopendra heros Girard. Two adults were obtained at Little Rock, several young at Murfrees- boro and Muddy Fork. —7— 28. Scolopendra woodii Meinert. A single specimen was caught at Donaldson. 29. Scolopocryptops sexspinosus (Say). Common at all points ; these specimens are of a darker shade than northern or eastern examples. 30. Henicops fulvicornis (Meinert). A single specimen was obtained at Little Rock near the Deaf Mute As\lum. This is a European species, and the only other recorded North American locality is Mount Lebanon, New York. 31. Lithobius branneri Bollmaii. A single specimen was obtained at Okolona and another at Little Rock. 32. Lithobius proridens Bollman. A few were obtained at Litde Rock. One individual is considerably larger than any specimen collected before. 33. Lithobius pinguis sp. nov. Posterior angles of all the liorsal plates straight. Anal pair of legs armed with two claws. Coxal pores few, in a single series. Penultimate pair of legs armed with two claws. CoxEe of the posterior feet un^irmed. Dark chestnut brown, head and antenna: dark, legs paler. Slender, not smooth, sparsely pilose ; head wider than long {3.5:3), polished, not pilose. Antennae short, 22- to 24-jointed, articles short. Ocelli 4 I06, arranged in 2 or 3 series. Prosternal teeth 2 -f 2. Coxal pores 3,3,3,2 to 4,4,4,4, round. Spines of the first pair of legs 0,0,1 ; penultimate pair 1,3,2,1 to 1,3,3,1 ; anal pair 1,3,2,0. Posterior legs short. Female : claw of the genitalia entire, stout and much curved ; spines strong, subequal. Length of body 9 — lo mm. Hab.— Little Rock. This description is based on three specimens. This is the smallest North American species with the claw of the female genitalia entire. 34. Lithobius celer sp. nov. Posterior angles of the 9, 11, 13 dorsal plates produced. Anal pair, of legs armed with one claw. Coxal pores few, in a single series. Penultimate pair of legs armed with two claws. Coxae of the 13, 14, 15 pairs of feet laterally armed. Brown of various shades, head and legs more or less chestnut, antennae dark. Moderately robust, smooth, sparsely pilose ; head about as long as wide, pilose.- Antennae rather long, 30- to 34-jointed, articles small. Ocelli 18 to 40, arranged in 4 to 7 series. Pro- sternal teeth 5 + 5 to 7 + 7. Coxal pores 2,3,3,2 to 5,6,6,5, round. Spines ot the first pair of legs 1,2,1 to 2,2,1; prenultimate pair 1,3,3,1 to 1,3,3,2 ; anal pair 1,3,3,1 to 1,3.3,2. Posterior legs short. Male : tibia of anal legs somewhat crassate, and furrowed beneath ; but more furrowed in the female. Female : claw of the genitalia short, tripartite, middle lobe much longer, others subequal ; spines moderately slender, inner shortest. Length of body 15 — 25 mm. Abundant or common throughout the State. This species is not strongly related to any known North American locality, it should be placed near /orjica/i/s, which it seems to replace in Arkansas. Dr. Wood has reported /brjica/tis from Arkansas and he ma}- have had the species which I have described. 35. Lithobius cedipes, sp. nov. Posterior angles of tlie 9, il, 13 dorsal plates produced. Anal pair "f l--:'^ armed with tw6 claws. Coxal pores few, in a single series. Pcnultmiaie pan- of li,-t;s aimed with two claws. Posterior coxae unarmed. Brown, head and antini ac dark, legs and ventral plates paler. Robust, not smooth, sparsely pilose ; head smooth, of about equal length and breadth (3.2, 3.6). Antennae short, attenuate, 24- to 26-jointed ((^, 26, 9 24). Ocelli 9 to II, arranged in 3 or 4 series. Prosternal teeth 2 -f 2 or 3-I-3. Coxal pores 3,5,4,3 to 6,5,5,5 round. Spines of the first pair of legs I,I,I ; penultimate pair 1,3,3,2 ; anal pair 1,3,3,1. Posterior pair of legs short. Male : femur of the last pair of legs somewhat bent inwardly and swollen ; tibia very strongly swollen, especially above and having a bunch of hairs on the posterior third ; first tarsal joint crassate. Penultimate pair of legs somewhat swollen, prin- cipally the tibia ; first tarsal joint produced into a short lobe on the inner side. Female : posterior pair of legs scarcely swollen ; claw of the genitalia entire ; spines 2 — 2. Length of male 15.4 mm.: of female 20 mm. Hab.— Little Rock. I have three specimens of this species. This is the only known species with b.oth the anal and penultimate pairs of feet swollen or pro- duced into lobes. 36. Lithobius transmarinus Koch. Abundant at Little Rock, common at other localities. 37. Lithobius mordax Koch. Common from Little Rock to Ultima Thule. 38. Lithobius vorax Memert. Found at all points where collections were made, but was more common at Little Rock. 39. Lithobius multidentatus Newport. In a vial of Myriapods that were collected near Little Rock by Mr. Hutcherson, there is a single specimen of this species. 40. Scutigera forceps (Rafinesque). One adult was seen at Arkadelphia, and several young at Little Rock. Indiana University. March 28, 1888. An Introduction to a Classification of the North American Lepidoptera. By John I;. Smith. (Continued froni Kn r. Am., vol. I, p. 87.) In the last paper of this series the Sphingida; were treated of and a svnopsis of the genera was given. It has been usual to follow this family with the Shm/ce, or /EgeriidcE as some authors prefer to call them, and, though recognizing no close relationship in any of its stages, with the Sphi7igi(Le, I shall yet follow the general order here. The family Sc'siicke is sharply defined, resembling somewhat in the imago state the Hymenoptera in the transparent wings and banded bright maculation. In the early stages they resemble the CasfniidcP and Coss/Wcr in so far that the larvae are Ejidophydcs, hving in roots, stems or branches ot plants, and the pupx also have great resemblance to them. The antenna; are longer than half the length of primaries, gradually variablv thickened medially, more slemler apically, the tip often with a brush of hair ; rarely they are setaceous, in the J^ usually with brushes of hair laterally, more rarely with lamelkt, or pectmations. Palpi well developed, ascending, joints variably projjortioned. Eyes naked. Ocelli present. Tongue variable, sometimes obsolete, often long and corneous. Thorax robust, closely scaled. Abdomen also closely scaled, long, usually slender, rarely somewhat flattened, often tapering to tip, usually with an anal tuft, In the J^ there are seven, in the O but six abdominal segments. Legs strong, femora and tibia; densely scaled or hairy — usuall}' the anterior tibia much shorter than femora— middle tibia; nearly equal to femora and hind tibiae much longer than femora. Median tibia; with terminal spurs, posterior with middle and terminal spurs. Primaries narrow, elongate, with the internal vein wanting or form- ing the internal margin — vein 5 often wanting. Secondaries with two, rarely three internal veins, costal vein wanting or forming the costal margin. (See Bull. B'klyn Ent. Soc, vol. 7, pi. 3, f 21.) In habit the species are diurnal, flying about flowers during the hottest sunshine. The European genera are few in number, and are separated b}" Herrich-Schiiffer as follows : Antennae without a pencil of hair at tip ; tongue short and weak. Antennae of q'' with long ciliae beneath, veins 2-4 qf secondaries separate Paranthrene. Antennae of (^ bipectinate, veins 3 and 4 from thi- same stem Bembecia. • — lO — Antennae with a pencil of hair at tip. Tongue short and weak ; antennae of f/ with a sinj^Ie row of lamellae beneath . . . Trochilium. Tongue long and strong ; antennae of q ciliate beneath Sesia. The Sesiidce are contained in Hiibner's classification in his Phalanx secunda, 7)-ilius seciiiida. He divides them as follows : Stirps I, Sesise. Primaries narrow and long, secondaries short and broad, both with long fringes. Familia A, Corpulentae. Body rather stout and the wings are not very small. Coitus /, Sphecia. Collar yellow at the sides, primaries immaculate, abdomen partly yellow. Fawilia y?, Graciles. Abdomen rather slender, primaries very narrow. Coitus 7, Paraiit/ireua. Primaries densely clothed with scales, ab- domen irregularly banded with }eH()w. Coitus 2, Metittia. Primaries partly, secondaries entirely transparent, feet with very bushy vestiture. Coitus J, Bi'iiitn'ria. Both wings transparent ; abdomen with a fan like tuft. Coitus 4, Synanthedou . Primaries marked with red centrall)' and reddish also along inner margin. Coitus 5, Conopia. Abdomen with bright red bands. Stirps 2, Apyralides. Wings rather broad and, angulated or dentate. Familia A, Vitratae. Primaries with transparent spot, abdomen smooth. Coitus I, Tlivris. Wings with but a single row of transparent spots, the abdomen white ringed. Coitus 2, Phostria. Primaries with tw^o rows of somewhat opaque spots, abdomen uniform. Walker still further subdivides the genera in the 8th volume of the Cat. Brit. Mus. Lep. Het., and finally ]\Ir. Henry Edwards has created a number of genera for our American species. As a rule our species are not very commonly found, and few col- lections have the family very largely represented. As Mr. Hy. Edwards is making a careful study of the family, looking to a monograph, I will here give only brief descriptions of the genera, premising that they are not based on any personal examination of the insects themselves, and following in the order of genera that is adopted in Grote's List of 1882. Melittia contains usually large and robust forms, fore wings generally opaque, tongue moderate or rather short, antennae subclavate, the post- erior legs very densely clothed with long hair forming prominent tufts or brushes nearly to the end of the tarsi. The latter character is the most prominent and is distinctive of this and, to a less extent of the two fol- lowing genera. Larunda has the primaries opaque, secondaries with but a small vitreous spot at base. The palpi are short, with a broad spreading tuft of hairs. Tongue almost obsolete, caudal tuft large, flat, spreading. The antennae are moderately pectinated in the (^, almost simple in the 9- Euhagena has both pairs of wings opaque. The posterior tibiae are clothed with hair similar to but not so long or dense as in JMeUttia. An- tenna; twice the length of the thorax, very deeply pectinated except at the tip where the pectinations seem soldered together in a solid mass. The tongue is short and week. Alcathoc has a much less marked tibial tufting, and is distinguished in the (-^ by a caudal appendage, as long as the abdomen. The fore- wings of the (^ are partly transparent, in the 9 ^^^7 ^^'^ opaque as in Sciapferon. The tongue is not mentioned, but is probably short, the antenna; lamellate beneath. Phemouoe is distinguished by the anal appendages of the male, not half as long as the abdomen and 5 in number. The forewings are opaque. Nothing is said of the tongue or of the antennce. Trochilium contains large species as a rule, with transparent wings, obsolete tongue, sub-clavate antennae with a brush of hair at tip, and rather densely clothed legs, not forming tuftings however as in some of the preceding genera. Bembecia has short filiform antennae, very shortly bipectinate, no brush at tip. The eyes are small, tongue strong and corneous. Abdomen with a broad somew'hat truncate anal tuft. Sciapteron has the antennae very slightly thickened toward tip, which is furnished with a little brush of hair ; in the male lamellate, the lamella; with a double series of bristly tufts. Tongue strong, corneous. The primaries are opaque or have but a small transparent space at base. Fatiia is based on a single species — dcnudatum — in which the sexes differ remarkably. In the male the primaries are long, very much narrowed towards the base, not covered with scales. Secondaries very large, ample, rounded on anal margin. Legs long and slender. Antenna- with very deep pectinations, ceasing before the tip, which is a solid mass, and bears some fine bristles. — Female less robust. Primaries opaque except a space near the internal angle. Antennae roughened but not serrated, much thickened towards the the tips ; abdomen very long, pointed at the tips, ovipositor protruding, compressed on its lower side into a small groove. Harmonia has an unusually large head, with very long pal[)i. Anten- nae slightly thickened toward the apex, with a double row of very fine serrations. Abdomen long and narrow, the four posterior segments with lateral, broadly-spreading, fan-shaped scales. Caudal tuft unusually long and broad, divided in the centre and spreadiug. Fore tibix' flattened. Primaries opaque. The structure of the tongue is not mentiuncd, nor whether or not there is a brush of hair at tip of antenna.-. Podoscsia is principally distinguished by its unusually long hind legs. The antennae of the (^ with ciliate lamellae, in the y Tnore slender than in Sciapteron. The primaries are opaque save for a small transparent space at base. The tongue is strong, corneous. AUmna is closely allied to Sesia but differs as follows : the head is much narrower than the front of thiirax, which is not so far produced beyond the base of the wings. The antennae are comparatively shorter, stouter, and more thickened toward the li{). Legs proportionately shorter, the tibia? more densely clothed with hair. Abdomen of the (^ never con- stricted at base, stout, cylindrical, the candal tuft small and not spread- ing. That of the Q is fusiform, quite as broad at base as the thorax, and tapering to a point. The genus contains rather large species. Saunina has the tongue almost absoletc. Antennre filiform, simple, rather slender, acuminated at the tip, nearly twice the length of the thorax. Legs slender, hind tibitt long and stout, somewhat pilose. Wings narrow, opaque. Sesia contains small or medium sized species, with antennte slightly thickened externally and with a brush of hair at tip : in the male with lateral brushes of hair but no lamellae, longer and more slender than the preceding genera. Tongue strong, corneous, anal brush more or less compacted, not spread fan-like. Primaries with two or three vitreous spaces, secondaries entirely vitreous. The greater number of our species are referred to this genus and in the European fauna it contains the larger proportion of the species. Pvrr/iofa'iiia has the antennae brush-like, heavy, lengthily pilose. Eyes banded, black and golden. Ocelli large. Head narrow, prominent. Tongue moderate. Primaries narrow, widening terminally at outer third, opaque. Carmcnfa has the fore wings quite opaque. Abdomen sessile and tapering toward anal extremity. Antennae thickened toward extremity as in Sesia proper. In many respects this genus approaches /'(^////A? of Dr. Leach. Of the British species, belonging to this genus, are described : S. sco/ica, Donovan ; S. ni/ostigma, Newman (= Z. sangidnea, Muell.) ; ^. vulgatum, L. (= non, Linn.-; sfriolafa, Chp.); -5". basale, Newm. (= L. sangiii?iea, Muell.); S. flavtnlata. Newm. (= L. Jiaveola, L. ). The remainder of LihrUida he divided into three genera, as Mr. Newman states. In a foot note the characters are given as follows : Sympefrum, abdomen laterally compressed — Ex. vulgatum, L. Or/Iicfruiii, abdomen laterally parallel-- Zlw carulescens, F., can- cel /alum, L. Platetruin, abdomen depressed and dilated — Ex. deprcf^sum, L. , consparcahaii, F. Lcpfeirum, abdomen conical and pointed — Ex. (juadrimaculatuin. L. , prcpnuhihim, Newir. "They will," the autlu)r adds, ".n ad j^robabdity resolve eventually into three distinct genera, and as such I had once prepared them for publica- tion together with Syjupetrnm as below, but a dislike to tiaiiie-giving in- duced me to relinquish them." I think by this statement it is evident, that the three last genera, which Mr. Newman has himself later, duiing 43 years, never used, not even mennoned, have certainly no right of priority. Lideed, Ento. Mag., I, p. 416, he speaks of Lil>e//ula pnenuljiia and Z//'. quadrimaculata, and ibid., vol. Ill, p. 151, prints in a paper of his friend Ed. Doubleday, Lib. quadrimacidata, L. depressa, L. prcpnuhila. The characters given for the genus Sympetrum are : Caput metathorace latins (so it is in every species of Odonata) ; propodeon podeonque in com- missura incrassata (common to every species of Odonata. but stronger in the males) ; segmenta sequentia lateribus compressa (among the species of Sympetrum only in the females, mostly cylindrical in the males) ; pro- telum ac adjacentia plus minusve incrassata (common to nearly every species of Odonata, because these parts contain the internal genitals) ; telum minutum (common to all Odonata) ; teli appendices notae caeteris distinctcC vix privbent ; alarum stigma utrinque conve.xum (without value). Mr. Newman, as f^ir as I am able to ascertain, mentions only twice more the name Sympetrum. In ]".nt(\ Mag., V, 484, where he con- —se- cludes : "the species o^ Synipetrnm are perfectly distinct ; the remainder of the genera and species will, I believe, stand. " In Zoulogist, 1845, vol. Ill, p. IC44, he mentions Sympetnim rtifo- sfigfiia. Entomologist, vol. I, 1841, p. 159 and p. 205, ^S'. nihiciinde i?, mentioned by Mr. Doubleday. I find Mr. Newman's genera only twice quoted by British Scientists. Mr. J. F. Stephens, Mandibulata, vol. IV, 1836, gives not as genera but as subgenera or subgroups the four names wiih the short characters of Mr. Newman, and of the new species of the monograph of Svmpetrian he quotes only one. Mr. J. O. Weslwood, in " Synopsis of the Genera of British Insects,'' 1839, p. 48, after the genus LibeUida puts in brackets the four names and one species to each of them. As he has counted for Libellula 1 5 specimens it is evident that he did not accept Newman's genera. It is difficult to understand now why some of Mr. Newman's papeis were not acknowledged or at least not mentioned by English Scientists ; however it seems to me out of place to speak here about things happily forgotten fifty years ago. Mr. VV. E. Evans British Liljellulina?, London, 1845, uses Dip/ax from the nomenclature of Charpentier, and mentions nowhere Svmpeirum. It is impossible that this work was unknown to Mr. Newman. Zoologist, 1845, p. 1044, he speaks of the presence "of Mr. Selys in London, en- gaged in examining the cabinets of the London collectors, for the purpose of correctly ascertaining under what names the various species o^ Libellula have been described by British Entomologists." Baron De Selys paper, published Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., 1846, p. 217, is reprinted by Mr. Newman, Zoologist, 1846, p. 1522, but nothing is said in favor of his genera, which are not even mentioned in this paper. Entomologists nowadays will scarcely be able to understand the diffi- culties, which impede'd the working fifty years ago. There was no con- nection to speak of between Scientists of Great Britain and the continent. In 1843 I found Stephens" Brit. Entom. and Curtis wanting in the libra- ries of Berlin, Vienna, Paris and of the Jardin des Plantes. The only copy in Germany belonged to the Senator von Hayden in Frankfurt a. M., which Erichson was allowed to consult. There did not exist any yearly Record ; the first was published 1834 in Wiegman's Archiv byBurmeister. The first Presidents Address of the Entomological Society by Mr. Children was published for distribution among the members ; the first Address of the Secretary, Mr. Westwood, contains nothing on Sympetnim. The existence of the Entomological Magazine was nearly unknown on the continent. Percheron, Bibliography, p. 225, quotes it "per Walker ihe —33— first 8 numbers,'' and in the catalogue of the hbrary of Victor Andouin, p. 55, we find the same statement. In the catalogues of the libraries of old prominent Scientists, Charpentier, Dejean, Guerin, Meneville, Klug, Lacordaire, Sturm, the Entomological Magazine is wanting. Burmeister, Handbuch, vol. II, p. 14, quotes ilic first volume and one number as seen by him, and this is the only copy mentioned for German}-. The first copy I saw myself, 1839, belonged to Mr. G. Marxlin in Upsala. As it was my custom, I copied for my own use all belonging to Odanata, but by a curious chance out of the copy still before me the part on Sym- pctnun must have been lost during my travels, and is therefore not quoted in my dissertation, 1840, and m my Review on the recent literature of Neuroptera, Stett. Ento. Zeit., 1849, p. 68, only as not seen by me. When in 1857 I went to London by invitation of Mr. J. E. Gray to study the British Neuroptera in the collections, I applied to Mr. E. New- man for the permission to see his own collection and that of the Ento- mological Club. I will never forget the kindness with which I was re- ceived by him. He spent the larger part of a whole day in showing me the collections, and as in the meantime I had made myself thoroughly acquainted with his \vritings, we had a detailed conversation about them, and of course also on the nomenclature of the Z/ZW/z/A/. Zoologist, 1857, p. 5879, he speaks about my visit and says : "the Neuroptera have been recently examined and the nomenclature rectified by Dr. Hagen." He did not take any exception to the nomenclature used by De Selys and myself in the Revue, of which, contrary to his former intentions, he has never made a report. So 1 had the conviction he had relinquished Sympetrum as well as the other genera. I cou>idered the names free and used three of them with .a different character, converting them in a femmine combination, to avoid the tedious change of the species name to a neutrum. After all, it was not the fate of English papers only to be over- looked in those times. Mr. E. Newman himself, when he pubhshed, 1852, his paper on the classification of Neuroptera, entirely over- looked the papers of Klug, Erichson, and Stein published twelve years before. The names of Mr. E. Newman have not been used by any one of the many writers on LihcHula during the long time since their publication, and Mr. E. Newman has never taken any exception to vindicate his rights, though all important works were well known to him. He has never ob- jected to the use of his names modified and accompanied by a difterent character by myself in the Synopsis of the Neuroptera of North America, in i860. Mr. MXachlan introduced tliese names again in his List of British —34 — Neuroptera, and Baron De Selys now in his Odonates de I'Asie mineure, 1887, has replaced Diplax by Sympetrum ; "quelques facheux que soient actuellement les changements de nomenclature — per une application ex- ageree du droit de priorite, il me semble juste d'adopter le nom de Sym- petrum au Hex de Diplax." I have shown before that three of the genera were relinquished by the author directly, and that the names were never used by himselfor any- body else, and that they could not be considered therefore to have the right of prioriiv to supersede other names 37 years later. Concerning ^rw- peinim the analysis of its characters given shows that the character is en- tirely insufficient, and that Mr. Newman has never taken an excepdon against the non-acceptance of tins genus by his own countrymen, Stephens, Westwood, Evans, and de Fonscolombe (1837) Baron De Selys, Hagen, and ct'^?;-)' writer upon Odonata since 1833. Further, that Hagen after conversing with Mr. Newman about this genus had the de- cided conviction, that it has been rehnquished by the author also. It was at least in former years always considered that monographs in prepara- tion, because the plates needed so much time, had a right to supersede names published during the time. The first plate of Charpenlier is dated 1828, and in 1837 Westwood saw in Bonn the big volume of plates, and therefore the name Diplax was everywhere accepted. Probably Mr. New- man was of the same opinion as he did not object tn B.xron DjSely^' papers in 1846 and 1850. 1 think therefore the names of tlie genera given bv Mr. Njw 111,111 should not be accepted. ■♦■ « ♦• A More Wicked Worm ! Editor Entom. A.mkk. Dear Sir : — Reading No. 10 of Vol. Ill, Ento. Am., I was much amused by the article "A wicked Worm.'' I can assure you no one in Germanv knows of this terrible insect, nor have I read anvlhing about it in any of the (jennan newspapers. It seems to me this worm must have developed quite independently in the brain o{ some North American Journalist. Of course there c;in be no doubt of the truth of the story. I\Ir. Smith is, in my o})init)n, right in his idea, that this worm and those thai destroyed the Russian cannons during the Crimean War, are nearly allied. A third worm, belonging to the same flimily and perhaps genus, is the famous "Ice Worm " which fed on the ice in the cellar of a great brewery at Dresden once upon a time. Of course the March beer went to ruin, as did also the brewery and all the stockholders 1 Neither ice, beer, nor money was to be found ! Yours trulv, H. B. MoSCHLER —35 — Phloeophagus spadix, J/rrhst, By \\l\A I AM JiJLICH. Collecting on Rock-away B,-ac!i, 1.. I., June iSih, last year, among the driftwood, I turned over board, lialf imbedded in the sand and thor- oughlv soaked with salt water. The board laid within the line of the high tide and must have been under water several hours every day for some time. Crawling on it were a few small, dark brownish Curculios which reminded me very much at the time of F/assop/es marinus, Horn, which I found under similar circumstances at the Pacific coast. Upon closer examination of the board— pine, about 2 inches thick, rotten and wormeaten— I succeeded in cutting out about ^o beetles, and a number of larvce and pupae ; the larvae as livelv as crickets, 3 to 4 nim. lung, of a yellowish white color, head considerably darker, and mandibles brown. On each side of the first three segments they had, on small wart-like pro- jections, a very small leg. The beetle proved to be Phhcophagiis spadix, Herbst, a European species, not before found in this country to my knowledge. This capture I consider especially interesting as it shows how some of these importations are landed. A board infested and wormeaten is thrown over board as useless and washed ashore, where the involuntary passengers take to the wing to seek conditions to suit them, or accomodate themselves the best way they can, or perish, if not capable of doing so. The astonishing tenacity of life, peculiar to Curculios, enables them to outlive unfavorable conditions which would kill a great many other insects, especially in the larval state, and accounts for the great number of Rhynchoi)horidai "naturalized" to our fauna. In order to indentify this species, if it comes under the observation of our collectors, 1 give the synopsis of Dr. Horn of the three species now known to belong to our fauna. Elytra oval, Inimeri broadly rounck-d. Thorax very densely and coarsely ])uiKturcd, elytral striiie broad, coarsely and deeply punctured, 4 mm spadix. Elytra oblong, sides straight, humeri distinct. Thorax densely punctured, elytral stria; deep, coarsely, serrately punctured, 2 nim apionides. Thorax sparsely punctured, elytral stria; broad, not deep, punctures coarse, not serrate, 2 mm minor. The two species described by Dr. Geo. H. Horn appear to be un- common, and all the specimens 1 have found I cut out of dead Ash. -56- Early Stages of Erebus odora, L. By H. T. Fernald, B. S. The egg and larvae of jF/Wv«,s- oomewhat smooth . . . G. (18) Philachyra, Haliday. —44— Notes on the CRAMBID^. By Prof. C. H. Ferxald. AmliLTst, Mass. I have recently been making a critical study of the described species of North American Crambidce preparatory to describing the unnamed species in my collection, and take this occasion to put some of the re- sults on record. In 1813, Germar began the publication of his "Alagazin der Knto- mologie" which closed at the end of the fourth volume. In the second volume, published in 18 17, Dr. Zincken began his INIonograph of the genus Chilo, which included not only the species now placed under that genus, but also those under Cramlnis, Prionoptcryx, Ancvloloviia and Schcenobius. Germar's genus Chilo has been broken up by later writers, but the lirst species under it — phragmiteUiis — has been retained and regarded as the type of Chilo. In the third volume, page 114 (1818), Zincken described a species under the name of Chilo Leachellus, but stated that the habitat was un- known. Zeller, who saw this type, found it to be identical with speci- mens in his collection from North America, and sent a specimen under this name to the Cambridge Museum with which I compared mine several years ago, and which I now find to agree perfectly with the original de- scription. Zellcr believed the species to be the same as Crmnhus invohi- fellus. Clem., but in this he was mistaken, for I have' studied the tvpe of (.'lemens' species very critically and found it quite disunct from that of Zincken. In the fourdi volume of Germar's Magazine, published in 1821, Zincken pulMished a Supplement to his Monograph of the genus Chilo in which he described seven North American species, viz : — sordideUus, salrapellns, prcefcctellus, decorellus, Plejadelhis, tetterellus and incerlellus, all of which I have been able to determine in my collection. , A carefully study of the literature and types gives the following syn- onomy of some of the species : Chilo decorelhis, Zincken, Germ. Mag., IV, p. 25c (i 82 1). Crambiis polyac/inelhis, Kollar in lit. (Zeller, Chil. etCramb.), p. 25, (1863). Crambus goodellianus, Grote, Can. Ent., XII, p. 17 (1880). Crambus Inmtisculalis, Hulst, Tr. Am. Ent. Soc, XII, p. 167 (1886). This species belongs to the genus Crambus as restricted by recent authors, and should be known by the name of Crambus decorellus, —45 — Zinck. By some slip, PiXif. Grote, in his New Check- List, has put his Crambus goodellianus as a synon\ni of C. Plejadellus, to which it has no resemblance. Chilo Plejadellus, Zincken, Germ. INIag. IV, p. 251 (1821). Crambus Plejadellus, Zeller, Chil. etCramb. , p. 26 (1863). Diphryx prolatella, dole, Bull. U. vS. Geo. Sur. VI, p. 273 (1881). Chilo oryz.eellus, Riley, Rept. Dept. Ag-. for 1881-2, p. 135 (1882.?). This species belongs to the genus Chilo and should be known by the name of Chilo plejadellus, Zinck. The genus Diphryx was established for an imperfect female of this species, but since more perfect examples do not differ structurally from the type of Chilo, the generic name Diphryx cannot be used. Prof Riley was led into the error of redescribing this species, partly by my inability at the time to say positively that it was Grote's species, and partly be- cause Grote expressed the opinion that it was not his species. Prof Riley states concerning this insect : " It is in fact, as we have always felt, congeneric with the larger sugar-cane and corn-borers treated of in the last annual report of the Entomologist under the generic n-^Lvae. Dialrcea.'' In this, Prof. Riley is mistaken, since D. saccharalis, Fab., has no ocelli, and the venation of the wings is quite different from C. oryzLeellus, Riley, which has ocelli. These differences have long been considered of generic value by every worker on the Microlepidoptera. Zeller in his Monograph has made many errors on the synonomy of our Cramlndte, and Grote was apparently led by him into some of the same errors. The difficulty was in not being able to determine the spe- cies of Clemens. C. involufellus and pulchellus are not synonyms of leachellus, but o{ prcpfeclcUus. Miss Emily L. IMorton, in collecting larv^ of Lepidoptera last year, put a mixed lot in a breeding box. Among others emerging afterwards in the imago form, was Aletia argillacea, Hb., the cotton worm. As beyond a penadventure none of the larvae Avere taken from the cotton plant, it may be considered proved beyond question that the larva? feed, in the North at least, upon one food plant other than cotton. * A novel exhibibition has during the last month been given to the people of New York and vicinity. Mr. Neumoegen, of the Brooklyn Society, has, as is well known, an unrivalled collection of Native and Exotic Lepidoptera. This has been on exhibition at the Eden Musee and has excited a very great deal of interest in the city. -46- Biograhy of Acontia delecta, Walker. By Archibald C. Weeks. The larvce (four in number) were taken when nearly full grown, during the first week of Sejitember, 18S4; feeding upon the Hibisrns moscIieii/os,l^., (Rose Mallow), on the meadows bctrdering the interior of the Long Island beach. Upon reaching home they were placed on mallow leaves, the stems of which were inserted in a glass ink-well filled with very moist earth. They fed voraciously and on the second day after capture spun in the earth at the base of the stems cjval cocoons, two-fifths of an inch in length and firmly coated with clav. These were exposed to the normal temperature and kept thoroughly moist, until July 5th, of the following year, when two of the imagines, (^ and 9, appeared, reproducing the brilliant coloration of the larva — the black, irregular, metallic L upon the white ground of the primaries, with angle at the inner margin, contrasting strongly with the pale safiYon, margined with a darker shade, of the secondaries — the maculatron above being roughly and faintly pictured beneath. The following is a description of the larva : Length i'/^ inches. Head and first segment smaller than remainder of body. Head rounded, some- what flattened on the sides, broader at bottom than at top, strongly cleft at summit, ground color dirty white, mouth parts black ; ground color enclosing a triun_;ular black space in front ; Ijottom, middle and summit of eyes with black spots, .--ometiaics confluent ; eyes with exceedingly minute sparse hairs. Body cylindrical, considerably enlarged anteriorly on the 3rd and 4th segments. Ground color dark, purjile. (Jn all segments a subdorsal line of black st)0t>, strongly edged with orange, especially on the middle segments. On the 3rd and 4ih segn•|enI^, directly below the 1st subdorsal line, appears a and double line of black spots in pairs, each pair joined and mchided by an oval orange patch. On each of the oiher segments are two other spots directly behind the first subdorsal. These are edged with orange, especially in front, and more conspicuou.dy on the middle segments. The black spots, especially at the middle segments, have a slightly tuberculous ten- dency, and from each of them a single short minute black hair projects, barely visible to the naked eye. There is also a row of sublateral patches, white anteriorly, oraii-e posteriorly, broadest behind and narrowing towards the front, each patch containing from 3 to 7 irregularly located and varying velvety black dots. The ist and and pair of anal legs, are wanting. The larva is consequently geometriform, and has the geometriform mode of progression. The fore legs are black with whitish orange towards the base. Anal legs orange on the outside, their color being confluent with the lateral patch -except in last pair. Anal legs somewhat projecting behind. A cluster of 5 or 6 minute hairs projects horizontaUy and directly above and between the anal claws. Tlie rows of subventral black dots nearly correspond as to position M'ith the subdorsal but want color ; from each dot hairs similar to subdorsal project. —47— The larva seems to have no fear of parasites, exposing itself freely in the centre of the upper side of a leaf in hot sunshine and in full view. It is not readily seen however, and its immunity is partially due perhaps to its resemblance to the twisted irregularly bent and withered petals of the mallow fallen after separation from the calyx, such resemblance being increased by the contorted posture assumed by the larva and the facility with which it rolls off the leaf when the plant is jarred. The species would seem to be single brooded — the imago appearing in the latter part of June or early part of July, and shortly thereafter the fertile female ovipositing upon tl]e mallow, the larvas attaining full size and pupating during the latter part of August or first of September. It appears to be of rather infrequent occurance, inasmuch as many of our large local collections are without a specimen. Its rarity, aside from its single brood, is undoubtedly caused l)\' the precarious situation of, so far is known, its solitary food plant, which exposes the insect in all stages of its existence to the destructive submergence and action of the tides. Prof. Fernald is appointed Entomologist to the Agr. Experiment Station of Mass. He will hold this office in addition to his Professorship at Amherst, and will have assistants to aid in the work of the Experiment Station. ]\Iassachusetts is to be congratulated in having so w^orthy a person in this position. * * * Mr. O. Lugger of Baltimore, now one of Prof Riley's assistants, has been called to the University of Minn, to take charge of the State Museum of Natural History. A better selection could not have been made, as Mr. Lugger has a wide knowledge in the general field, of Natural History and in Coleoptera is a specialist. * Dr. Packard expects to publish in June a work entitled " Entomo- gy for beginners." It will be illustrated, a work of from 300 to 400 pages, i2™o size. It will contain full directions for collecting and pre- serving insects, for dissecting them and making microscopical prepara- tions. Also lists of works on the general subject and special lists for each order. It promises to be a w^ork of very great usefulness as it must be of necessity of very great merit. * * * Mr. C. R. Gillette of Lansing, Mich., has been appointed Ento- mologist to the Iowa Agr. Experiment Station. -48- A Note on Chanopterus, Boh. By Geoege H. Horn, M. D. This genus was founded by Bobeman (Eugenies Resa Ins. p. 98) on the heteromerous coleopter collected at the Straits of Magellan. It is about .3 inch long, brown or piceo-teslaccous in color, shining. Mv attention was called to it, more especially, by its resemblance in form to ^gialitcs, although larger and differently colored. Through the kind- ness of Mr. Chas. O. Waterhouse a specimen was given me from the collection of his father, in which it boic the wwxnsd Chitoniscus hrevipcnnis, probably unpublished. In studying the species more closely, it was found that Chanopterus had comparatively little in common with /Egialites. The anterior coxal cavities are widely open behind, removing it from any relationship with the TenebriomdcB. The head being rather broad behind the eyes and the thorax without distinct lateral margin the affinities are decidedly in the direction of the i\Ichiiidrvi(Lc and PythicLe, to the latter more especially. At this time it is not necessary to discuss the propriety of retaining the two cited families as distinct but I have already expressed the opinion that there is not that fundamental difference in structure which should separate families. Chanopf ems paradoxus was placed by Boheman in the Tenebrionide tribe Helopini. As the insect was unknown in nature to Lacordaire he merely mentions it in the supplement to the fifth volume and the Munich Catalogue adds no further opinion. From the study at present given, it seems an undoubted Pythide, as the family now stands, and while not closely related to either of the tribes proposed by Lacordaire it seems most nearly allied to Lalpingus although forming a tribe apart. Mr. J. B. Smith's Monograph of the Sphingidce is in press and will be ready for publication at no remote date. It will be published by the Am. Ent. Soc. It will be the most exhaustive and valuable work on die subject. * Clarence M. Weed has, we are informed, been appointed Ento- mologist for the State of Ohio with headquarters at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Hy. Edwards is hard at work on a bibliography of the adolescent stages of Lepidoptera, and as we are informed expects to complete the same some time during the Summer. —49— Notes on Geometridae. No. 4. By Geo. D. Hulst. Antepione imitata, Hy. Edw., Papilio, vol. II, p. 48. Dr. Packard has raised ,in Maine, on Alder, a specimen of this in- sect, and with the intergradauons taken in various parts of the countr)-, it must be regarded as variety of .-J. sulphuraia, Pack. Aplodes coniferaria. Pack., Am. Nat., vol. XVIII, p. 933. By the kindness of Dr. Packard I have the type of this species. It is a small form of .1. inimosaria, Guen. Eugonia magnaria, Guen., Phal., I, 147- Since publishing the note ( Knto. Am., II, 49), slating that the American ditiers frum the European species in venation, I have seen an ardcle by Mr. P. C. S. Snellen of Rotterdam, Holland, calling attention to the fact that the American also differs from the European species, in that it has but one pair of spur^ on the lund tibix% while the European hAS two pair of spurs. Mr. Moeschler, speaking of this fact, does not seem to think it gives a valid basis for specific distinction, inasmuch as some of the Acidalia; vary thus in the same species. But I am inclined to think Mr. Moeschler"s opinion is hardly to be allowed. I do not know, nor have I been able by correspondence to ascertain, that any Geometer, in the same sex, has from a single batch of eggs been bred, some specimens having a different number of spurs on the hind tibiae from others. As far as I can learn, the determination of specific identity is made on the basis of the identity of the two forms in size, coloration, food plant and perhaps larval history. But, though in every other respect two insects were alike, and differed only in the number of spurs, I would not hesitate to consider them distinct species. The spur is an important structural character, and its presence or absence is marked by a very im- portant modification of the tibia in all cases where I have made examina- tion. If further observation verifies what has been stated concerning E. autumnaria and E. magnaria, these species will have to be considered generically as well as specifically distinct. Acidalia hepaticaria, Guen., {rubromarginata, Pack.), Phal. I, 47- Of this species 6yc/(?/-/<7 e'r>'//^;7^/£^, Hulst, Brookl. Bull, 111,42, is a varietv. The variety is the deep uniform reddish form in which the lines are very indistinct or not at all evident. It seems to be the prevailing, perhaps the only form in Colorado. Lepiodes {Tomos) interruptaria, Grt., Can. Ent., XIV, 185. I was quite a little suprised some time since on receiving some Gco- 7)ieiri(he from Dr. Packard, to find that one labelled Etipithecia Behren- sa/a, Packard, was the same as the above insect. Dr. Packard's nam has priority over Mr. Grote's, so the species, till some further light is shed on genera, may stand Lepiodes Behrensata, Pack. Exelis pyrolaria, Guen., Phal., I. 324. This insect has remained unidentified in American collections since the time it was described. After a study of tlie description of genus and species, I am convinced the insect is none other than Lepiodes (Tornos) approximaria, Pack. The species till the hoped for light on genera comes may be known as Exelis pyrolaria, Guen., and may be catalogued next to Lepiodes. Mecoceras peninsularia, Grt. , Pap., Ill, 79. I am unable to see how this can be separated from the common tropical insect Mecoceras Nitocritaria, Cram. Cleora pulchraria, Minot. (Proc. Post. Soc. Nat. Hist., XIII, 170, 1869.) Dr. Packard, in the 5th Report, Peab. Acad. Sci. , p. 84, tells us after an examination of Walker's types in the British Museum that this insect is the same as ^//c/rrt/>w i'tw/Zc/wi^rr/c/, Walker, (C. B. M. Geom., p. 1506, 1862), and AspUates canosaria. Walker, (C. B. M. Geom., p. 1675, 1862). Dr. Packard does not correct the synonomy in his Monograph but the name must be Cleora seniicliisaria, Walker. Boarmia. The species of this genus are very difficult to determine. The typical forms are quite distinct, but the species are generally variable. I have carefully examined Mr. Groies species, so far as I have the types, viz : — pulmonaria, dataria, grisearia, separafaria, obliquaria, and rufaria. Se-- parataria is possibly the male oi pulmonaria; grisearia is very close to, yet distinct from, crepuscularia ; obliquaria is very close indeed to guiti- quelineana, Pack. ; ru/aria is only a color variety in my opinion of obliquaria ; dafaria is scarcely distinct specifically from pampinaria. I think, notwithstanding the closeness of some of the species, it is wise to let them stand as they are, till we have more light, as it is as yet impos- sible to tell how permanent slight differences may be. Eubyia quernaria, .^b. c'c Sm., Lep. Ga., 11, 205, pi. 103. CJf this species PJ. pcB7iulaiaria, Grt., is at best a variety. And Synop- sia phigaliaria, Guen., although regarded by Guenee as belonging to a different genus, is undoubtedly entitled to no more than varietal stand- ing. Mr. Bolter has a specimen, which is the counterpart of Guen^e's figure, but it is only a form of/:', quernaria. What relation E. cupidaria, Grt., has to this species I am unable to say, but I am very decidedly of the opinion that it will prove to be the (^. In the specimens before me, 5 (^(^, 3 9 9) "^^^''^ '^ ^'^''J ""^uch —51 — variation in color, but in all the males the black median cross line of the hind wings is very much straighter than in the females. In one male it is exactly as in the figure of ctipidana,—\.\\^\. is, somewhat rounded m- wardlv. The females are in their lines quite uniformly after one pattern, the males quite uniformly after the other. E. nicxicanaria, Gn., Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci., VIII, 51, I have very little doubt is a form of this same species. Indeed, Mr. Grole seemed in his description to l)e more than half convinced of this, and as well of the opinion expressed above that his ctipidan'a was the male o'i (jiiernaria. Phigalia olivacearia, Morr., Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H., XVI, 200. With several specimens before me having labels in Mr. Morrison s handwriting, I am quite strongly of the opinion that this species is not a synonym o'i s/n'gatana, Minot. The two are very easily separated and the differences seem to be consiani. Olivacevia is more even and silky in vestiture and has an olivaceous shading. The hind wings are much lighter and show but one indistinct line, straighter than the corresponding line in strigataria, antl are less angulated at the anterior angle, and as compared with the inner margin of the fore wings the hind wings are shorter. The lines of the fore wings are less distinct, the median line is at costa nearer the basal than the outer in olivacearia, but is nearer the outer in slrigataria. In olivacearia the median line at costa turns out and forms an angle just below costa ; in s/riga/aria it is curved In olivace- aria the outer line at costa is curved with a black tooth at lower point ; in s/riga/aria it is nearly straight and at length angulated. In o/ivaceana the outer line near inner margin is generally confluent with the median line and is loosely straight, in s/riga/aria it is rarely confluent, and just before the inner margin forms an even arc, concave outwardly. In o/ivac- earia the female is much smaller, and the wings are not more than half as long being not quite as long as thorax, while in s/riga/aria they reach to the second abdominal segment. P. cine/aria, French, is probably a ^yxxonymoi P. s/riga/aria, WmcA. It was described from one O, and the description applies entirely to females of s/riga/aria, which in coK r have quite a little variation. Anisopteryx vernata. Peck, Mass. Mag., Oct. 1795, 323. 415- Dr. Packard argues at some length that Harris made a mistake in describing A. pome/aria, stating that he redescribed the insect originally described by Peck. Dr. Packard gives the name au/umna/a to the species that he thought undescribed. Mr. Mann, Proc. Post. Soc. Nat. Hist., XV, 382, and Can. Ent., VIII, 164, siiows that Harris did not redescribe Peck's vcrna/a. It seems to me the two species stand Anisop/eryx verna/a, Peck, and A. pome/aria, Harris, with A. au/umna/a. Pack., as a synon\m of the latter. — 52 — Book Notices. Revision of the Species of Lachnosterna of America North of Mexico, by George H. Horn, M. D., Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1887, vol. 14, pp. 209—296, I plate. This paper by Dr. Horn is a very timely one. The species oi Lack- nostenia had become hopelessly mixed in collections, and it was unsafe to rely upon determinations anywhere. The local abundance of some species — their variability in color and size, and the similarity of the species proved a fertile source of confusion. A few species are well marked, and recognizable under all circumstances — leaving these all guides were lost. Dr. Horn's paper makes it possible to move more safely. Still withal the group is not an easy one, and requires tact as well as fair series to make identification certain. As in so many cases, the male characters afford good bases for specific distinction while the lemales often closely resemble each other. Dr. Horn as usual gives very good synoptic tables and in all cases sufficiendy minute descriptions. In Lachnosterna as here used, Dr. Horn includes Trichestes Erichs. , Ancvlonycha Blanch., Tuslegoptera 'Ql-^nch. , Eiigas/ra Lee, Endrosa \^tc. , and (ryw/w Lee. The number of species is increased to 81, and for the benefit of those who may not have access to Dr. Horn's paper, and as a guide to an ar- rangement of the species, we give a copy of the list of species. LACHNOSTERNA, Hope. GROIP I. 1. lanceolata Say. Kansas to Texas. GROUP n. 2. cribrosa Lee. Texas. vefi/ricosa Lee. 3. sequalis Lee. Texas. 4. farcta Ztr. Texas. GROUP in. 5. torta Lee. Texas. 6. hamata Horn. Texas. GROUP IV, 7. latifrons L^ee. Fla. 8. generosa Horn. Texas. 9. prselermissa Horn. La. 10. prununcLilina Burtn. Ga., Fla, eerasina Lee. 11. glaberrima ^/rtwc/?. Pa. to Fla. 12. ephilida Say. Can. to Fla.. Tex, ; uniforinis Blanch. hurmeisteri Lee. —53- »3- S4. longitaisus Sqv. frontalis Lee. Clemens Horn. dispar \ Lee, dispar Burm, d-cbilis Lee, GROUP V. Ills, to Kans., Mont., N, Me.x, Fla, , Te.v. GROUP VI, Fla ;i6. GROUP VII, Can. to Tex,, N. C Can, to Va., N. K States to Kans. 19. 20. 21. :22. 21. 24. 25, 26. 27. 28. 29, JO- gracilis Burm. t'olviila Lee. i)mna Lee. gibbosa Burm. fniilis ^ Lee. serricornis Q Lee. hirtiventris Horn. Texas, eongrua Z^c. Mo. , Kans. , Tex. , La, postrenia Horn. Fla, affinis Lee. Kans., Col, Ind. T, , Tex. piunina L<;c. Ohio and Mich, to Kans., Tex,, Ala, pruinosa li Mels. fraiej-na \ Burm. ealceata Lcc. Tex, erassissima Blanch. obesa Lee. robusta Q Lee. subpruinosa Case}'. GROUP VIII, GROUP IX. Kans. to Tex, Fla, errans Lee. Or., Cal,, Nev. inversa, Horn. Ky., Ills., Kans., Neb., Tex. bi partita ZTtfr^, Kans., La., Tex. micans Knock. Mass. to Mo, and to Ga. and La. sorroria Q Lee, diffinis Blanch. Fla., Ky. vehemens Horn. Kans. fusca /v-a-///. Huds, Bay to N. Ga. , thence north-westerly to N. Cal. qiiercina Knoch. /erven s Gyll. fervida | Oliv. var. consimilis (^ Lec. 37 _54— var. anxia 9 Z^c. hrevicollis Blanch. va?-. puncticollis Blanch, var. drakii Kirby. race cephalica Lee. uninotata Walker. 'i)'^. politula Horn. (loc. .?) barda Horn. N. Car. marginalis Lee. N. Y, to Wise, and Ills- spreta, Horn. Md., la. fraterna Harr. Me. to la. and N, Cair. var. cognaia Bunn. var. forsteri Burm, lugubris Lee. lutescens Lee. var. semieiibrata Lee. 38. infidelis Horn. Ga., Fla. 39. luctuosa Horti. So. Car. to Fla. and La, 40. eorrosa ZtT. Ills, and Tex. 41. %c\i\x\a, Horn. Tex. 42. knoehii Gyll. Mass. to Ga. 43. profunda Blanch. Tex. 44- rugosa Mels. Mass. to Col, to N. Car. and Texas. GROUP X. 45. hirsuta Knoch. Mich, to N. Car. 46. comans 7?«/-w. Ga,, So. Car., Fla. sorroria ^ Lee. decidua Lee. rnfiola 9 Lee. 47. implicita Z^or«. Can. to Mo., Nebr. , La. 48. balia Say. M. States to Ills. CO ma la Burm. 49. villifrons L,ec. Can., Pa., Ills., la. hirticeps 9 Lee. 50. limula Horn. H. B. Terr., Mont., Col., Utah, Ills. 51. nitida Z^6\ Ga. , Pa. GROUP XI. 52. hirticula Ktioch. Atl. region to Nebr. and Texas. hirsuia \ Sa\'. 53. deleta Horn. Ky. 54. ilicis Knoch. N. Y., to Ga. and Ills. porcina Hentz. —55— fimbriata Burm. stibfotisa Lee var. i lie is Burm. 55. ciliala Z>c. Wise, Ills., Mo., Ga. GROUP XII. 56. a?mula Horn. Ga. 57. 7i\c\.?i Horn. Texas, 58. cienulata Frwhl. Mass. to Sa Car., to Kans. and Ind. Terr. georgicana Gyll, 59. albina j9«;v;/. Ind., Miss. 60. vetula Horn. Ariz. , N. Me.x, 61. rubiginosa Z^c. Kans,, Tex, 62. parvidens Z^c. Ga., Fla., (Texas.?). GROUP XIII, 63. submucida Lee. Texas. 64. glabricula Lee. Kans., Texas, 65. fucata Horn. Ariz. 66. exorata Horn. Texas. GROUP XIV. 67. ignava Horn. Tex, N. Mex. 68. longicornis Blanch. An sp. Am. .? GROUP XV. 69. quercus Knock. Middle States to Ga, fervida \ Schonh. 70. inepta Horn. Ohio, 71. affabilis Horn. Kansas. 72. cl\ peata ZTo/-;/. Ga. , Fla. integra II Lee. 73. boops Horn. Ga. 74. eeostata Horn. Texas. GROUP XVI. 75. crinita Burm. Texas. glabripennis Lee. 76. tristis Fabr. U. S. generally. pilosicollis Knoch. crinita \ Lee. 77. lenis Horn. Ariz., So. Cal. GROUP XVII. 78. heterodoxa Horn. So. Ariz. GROUP XVIII. 79. tusa Horn. Tex. 80. maeulicollis Lee. Lower Cal, 81. nitidula Z^c. Lower Cal. -56- Finally, not as a fault, but as an unavoidable omission we call attention to the fact that dates of appearance are not given. It is to be regretted that collectors generally do not date their cap- tures, and of course a monographer of species so widely distributed can not know when his material was collected. But just in this genus the matter is of interest. As a rule the species are not uncommon, and sometimes very abundant. Observations made by several entomologists indicate that the species relieve each other — i. e. appear successively, though a few will have a long life and overlap. I have noted that crenii- lata appears later \k\z.w fusca and hirticula and has but a short life. In one season all my captures were confined to one week. Ilicis is also short-lived in my experience, while hirticula extends over a considerable period of time, and is abundant. It will be a valuable addition to knowledge if collectors would note dates of first appearance, of greatest abundance, and of last capture. It is not only of interest as bearing on life history, but as an aid to identi- fication, as when dates of appearance do vary, the date of capture may indicate the probable species at once. Then too the food plants of the imago differ. Oaks are most commonly attacked, but I have never taken rrsnulaki anywhere but on blackberry flowers. If our readers would preserve these data and send them to Ento. Am. for publication it would be a positive advance of our knowledge. The collection of the Nat'l Museum contains now much more than half of the described species, and we should be glad to get series from all localities, in return for Avhich we will identify the form sent, if desired. John B. Smith. * Twenty-two common Insects of Nebraska. By Conway McMillen, M. A. University of Nebraska, Bull, of the Agr. Experiment Station of Nebraska, Vol. I, No. 2, Article II, pp. i — loi. January, 1888. This pamphlet, of recent issue, is so far as we are aware, the first Report made by any of the recent appointees as Entomologist to the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, aided by Congressional appro- priations, and if the other gentlemen have the same idea of their office, it is to be devoutly hoped it is the last as well. The work is purely and simply a compilation principally from the Reports of the U. S. Entomo- logist, the Entomological Commission, and the Reports on the Ins. of ]\Io. Lintner, Packard and Thomas have all been laid under contribu- tion to produce a superficial and imperfect history of the species treated of. By far the greater number of species have been very fully treated in the U. S. Gov't Reports and this brochure is simple a poor abstract paid for a second time out of the same pocket. The figures used in the work are —57— borrowed from Riley's Reports in almost every instance— certainly none are original. There is no evidence that any of the Insects are now, or are likely to be injurious in Nebraska, and the matter seems to have been produced merely to fill space. For an agricultural newspaper, in answer to complaints received the articles are good— as the publications of an Experimeni Station they are entirely absurd. As stated, Mr. McMillen does not record a single original observa- tion, yet he states that all have been carefully verified, and the inference from the context is that he himself has verified them. It need only be mentioned that he records the result of the work of a number of careful and scientific observers for a long series of years to show that that is im- possible. Phylloxera alone would require more time to veny]' than the Experiment Stations have been established and also would require a high grade of skill in a trained observer. Of course, as a compilation from the best sources no criticism can be made of the matter so far as scientific accuracy is concerned. Mr. McMillen as an Entomologist is entirely unknown to us— so far as we are aware it is his first appearance ; it is to be hoped his future work will be of a different class. So far as we have been able to learn, a large proportion of the State E.xperiment Stations have now appointed Entomologists — in most in- stances men who as such are absolutely unknown ; who have had no Entomological training whatever, and whose knowledge is measured by what they can find in Packard's Guide. Many of them may do excellent work nevertheless and we only hope that they will not, simply to print something, follow Mr. McMillen's example and reprint the work of others in such shape as to suggest it is at least partially their own, to those who know nothing of the sources drawn from. Note by the Editor. The above critique is not editorial nor do we entirely agree with its sentiment. The Hatch Bill says it shall be the duty of the Experiment Stations " to conduct original researches or verify experiments." But the first and the all important object of the Hatch Bill is "to aid in acquiring and diffusing among the people of the United States use- ful and practical information on subjects connected with Agriculture." And with this in view every source of knowledge is properly made use of. Every means of destroying insect enemies must be brought to the atten- tion of the people. The government may have already paid for the knowledge, but the knowledge has never generally reached the people : and if the Experiment Stations accomplish this end, the money used for this purpose is not by any means wasted. Of course due credit must -58- always be given to the one from whom knowledge is obtained, but one can hardly think the new State Entomologists have no right for example to recommend the use of Paris Green for destroying the Potato Beetle, because another discovered that it would easily and cheaply accomplish that end, and this knowledge is therefore not the result of their original research. Our understanding is that under the Hatch Bill Entomologists are to diffuse knowledge among the people — how to arrest and prevent insect ravages ; and in connection with this verify experiments, and make ori- ginal researches, that if possible the old may be bettered, and new methods of protection discovered. * * Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, D. C, Vol. 1, No. 2. We have received a copy of the above and are free to give it un- stinted praise. It is a report of the minutes of the meetings of the Wash- ington Society, but in this case the report is of very great value. In con- nection with the Department of Agriculture and the National Museum, a large number of excellent specialists, some of them among the best, have been brought together. They all have scientific ability, are all trained observers, and the reports of the meetings are a history in part of their investigations and opinions. By necessity the information is of very great value and every student will read these Proceedings with delight and profit. G. D. H. A New Species of Hyparpax. By Ed. L. (jraef. Hyparpax aurostriata, n. sp. Shape and size of//, aurora, Abb. & Sm. Anteriors, thorax and abdomen dirty wliite yellow spiinkled uniformly with pink. The transverse anterior line runs parallel to outer margm to the middle of the wing, thence bifid, the inner one run- ning to anterior margin forming almost a right angle, the anterior curving sharply toward the apex. Secondaries dull yellow white ; traces of the pink scales especially along the outer margin. Beneath, all the wings same color as secondaries with scales of pink densest at the margins and toward the apex. This species I have often found in collections labeled H. aurora and by many collectors supposed to be that species or a variety of it. I have received more than a dozen specimens from Texas and they are all of this form and constant. H. aurora is a totally different species. Abbot and Smith's figure agrees perfectly with the form found in the Atlantic States. In H. aurora the primaries are pale yellow, basal patch, costa and exterior margin bright pink. From II J^J^ and 2 9 9- Te.xas. —59— Notes on Life History of Scopelosoma moffatiana, Groie. By R. F. Pearsall. Some larva of this species were taken early in June in the Catskill region, feeding, mostly at night, on the leaves of the Witch Hazel {Hatna- melis virginica). When not feeding, during the day they lie curled up on the under side of the leaf. None were taken previous to the first moult and no change was apparent in coloration, at any subsequent moult. Description. --Zrtri/rt.— Length full grown 1.45 in.; smootl^ Head smooth, glassy semitransparent. Each segment above is chalky white, becoming translucent between the segments and traversed through the centre with a pale lemon-yellow band. Feet and underparts dirty white. When full grown, which is after the fourth moult, it goes down in the ground and under some convenient piece of moss, generally a moist place, forms a small cell which is Uned with a gummy secretion, spending the Summer in the larval state. About September ist my specimens changed to pupte which were 7, inch long, shining bright brown and quite active, the casing being very thin. Imagos appeared from Sept. 25th to Oct. 5th, and have been already described, presenting but little variation except in depth of color- ing. From their late appearance I am inclined to think, that they hibernate in this state, laying their eggs in the Spring, presumably upon the leaves. Books and Pamphlets received during April 1888. Naturae novitates, Nos. 6, 7 and 8, 188S, Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Belgium, No. 97. Proceedings of the California Academy of Science, Vol. II, No. 8. Entomologisk Tidskrift, 1887, 4 parts. Bulletin of the Natural History Society in Vienna, Parts 3 and 4. Psyche, No. 144. Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XX' No. 4. Journal N. Y. Microscopical Society, Vol. IV, No. 2. Journal of Microscopy, April, 1888. Scientific Inquirer, Vol. Ill, No. 28. Prairie Farmer for April, 1888. .Notes on the species of Euerythra and Callimorpha, by John B. Smith. from the Author. Society News. The Brooklyn Entomological Society met in S?engerbmid Hall, May 1st, 1888. Thirteen members present. The Special Committee appointed to confer with the Brooklyn Institute concer- ning the terms upon which the Society might become a branch of the Institute re- -~l p-orted and presented a definite v/ritten offer on the part of the Brooklyn Institute, The offer was in summary as follows : The Brooklyn Entomological Society shall become the Entomological Depart- ment of the Brooklyn Institute ; its regular members becoming associate members of the Institute without payment of initiation fee ; its honorary members becoming cor- responding members of the Institute •, its life members becoming life members of the Institute ; its President becoming a member of the Council of the Institute. The Brooklyn Entomological Society shall retain its present form of organization and by- laws, have its own treasurer, retain for its own use all its present property and funds, or any specially donated to it in the future ; have the use of the membership fees of all members of the Institute connected with its department, have from the Institute rooms, light and fuel free, have the right to continue the publication under its owr> name of its Journal of Entomology. This offer holds good if the Brooklyn Entomo- logical Society surrender its charter, or if it choose to retain it, but in either case no rule or by-law of the Society shall conflict with those of the Institute, On motion action upon this communication was laid over until the next regular meeting to be held June 5 th and the Secretary was instructed to give notice of the matter to all the members. Mr. Heinrich Ries was proposed for membership, and ananimously elected a member of the Society. Mr. Henry Ulke of Washington was unanimously elected an honorary member. There was a discussion of certain habits of ants, and also upon certain specimens of insects exhibited, illustrating in part their life history. Entomological Society of Washington. May 3rd, 1888. Eleven members present. Mr. C. H. T, Townsend was elected Corresponding Secretary vice Mr. O, Lugger, resigned. An abstract of Mr. Schwarz's paper, presented at the previous meeting, was read to open discussion. Dr. Fox thinks the rules stated by Mr. Schwarz too strict for the spiders. They do not seem to be nearly so well limited in distribution as the Coleoptera. Mr. Smith gave a brief leview of some parts of the Lepidopterous fauna of this district, and stated the distribution of a number of species which with the same ap- parent origin have spread further north. He decidedly agrees with Mr. Schwarz in excluding all discordant material in this district from our Fists. Dr. Marx reviewed the spiders collected by Mr. Schwarz— 26 species, but one of which is sub-tropical. The others are nearly all found in the Soutiiern States generally, Ceiitrurus biaaileatiis, found by Mr. Schwarz, has a wide distribution, being found also in South America and in Africa. Mr. Schwarz estimates his Coleoptera captured at 250 — 300 species, with few ex- ceptions truly sub-tropical. Dr. Merriam has informed him that the distribution of the sub-tropical avifauna agrees perfectly with his experience in the Coleoptera. Judge Johnson and Mr. Mann also spoke briefly on the same subject. Mr. Smith gave the characters and affinities of Cydosia, which he finds to be a true Arctiid closely allied to Ceraihosia. He also gave some notes on the habits of Lachnosterna as observed by him. Dr. Marx showed the figure of an abnormal scorpion, and of a Lycosa in which the middle row of eyes had disappeared. Mr. Howard exhibited some plates from Mr. Scudder's " Butterflies of New England," showing figures of the genitalia of some species. Mr. Smith says there is no explanation to these plates— had some of the figures been presented to him without a statement where they belonged, he would have un- hesitatingly have referred them to the SphingidiC. He knows nothing of the Butter- fly structure on this point, but has examined nearly every family in the Hetcrocera, to none of which the Sphingids bear so marked a similarity as they do to the forms illustrated on this plate. J. B. Smith, Sec'y. VOL, lY. BROOKLYN, JULY, 1888, NO, 4. Early Stages of some North American Moths. By Henry Edwards. Sphinx Elsa, Strecker. Full grozun larva. — Pale apple green, each segment with numerous minute raised tubercles, yellowish, surrounded by a red ring, giving rather a roughened appear- ance to the insect. On the 6 posterior segments is an oblique stripe of reddish brown, edged posteriorly with pale yellow. The stripes on the last 2 segments become con- fluent at the base of the caudal horn, which is unfortunately wanting in the specimen before me. Mouth parts, feet and legs, purplisli brown. Length 70 mm. Width 10 mm. From an inflated specimen prepared by Mr. f. Doll. Saturnia Galbina, Clemens. Egg- — Depositt-^d in an irregular mass, cream color, slightly flattened at the sides, very glossy. Before the emergence of the young larva the largest circumference of the egg becomes bright chestnut brown, the larva eating a circular hole through which to escape. Yoit7ig larva.— VAdicV, sparsely covered with long fawn colored hairs. Head very large, glossy. (Died 2 days after emeigeiice.) Cocooti.~Y orxw^A of fine network, white, the outer case also of net work, but tlie meshes much larger and coarser. The silk of which it is composed is stout and strong. The pupa is hardly visible through the cocoon. Length 45 \\\m. Width 20 mm. Pupa. — 'iiovX, short. Head case rounded in front, the color fawn-drab, with the edges of the wing cases and the posterior margins of the abdominal segments brown. The whole surface is rugosely punctate. Spiracles and cremaster brov.-n. Length 25 mm. Width 12 mm. Coloradia Pandora, Blake. £gg- — Very large for the size of the imago, round, almost globular, brownish in color and mixed largely with the hairs irom the abdomen of the parent. A gummy secretion is supposed to be deposited with the eggs, as they adhere very firmly to- gether. —62 — Clisiocampa fragilis, Stretch. Cocoon. —The cocoon of tliis species \i more delicate and finer in texUii'e ihan any other of tlie L;enus. It is pure white, very closely spun, narrow, and is attached at the sides to two or three steins of gra~s oi- other plants which may be convenient, and being generally free from any impuriiijs, it is cjuite a pretty object. I have never taken the species except upon the sides of iMt. Davidson, Nevada. I believe the larva feeds on a species of Cm/ipositir, allied to Bi^i^c-ioTia. Leni^th 25 mm. Width 12 mm. Sphingicampa 4 lineata, G. & R. Pupa. - In shape very like that oi Auisota, but comparatively a little longer. It is pitchy black throughout, the junction of the abdominal segments a little paler. The entire surface is very rough, and covered with minute raised spines. On 'the posterior margin of the last 5 abdominal segments is a row of raised teeth, and a similar row on the anterior margin of «// the segments. These extend entirely around the body. On the top of the first segment behind the head case are two raised shining large black tubercles. The cremaster is very long bifurcate, and extremely rough. Length, includnig cremaster, 54 mm. Width 16 mm. Citheronia Mexicana, G. l\: R. /■///rz.- Scarcely distinguishable trom that of C. rcgalis, except that it is much smoother, and the spn-a.les much larger in size. They are also raised considerably above the surface ot the segments. The cremaster is also smooth at its tip. Hyperchiria Pamina, Neumoegen. Larval Stages. — After jrd moult. — Ground color of the dorsal region, pitchy black. On the dorsum are 4 slightly waved cream colored stripes, extending from the base of the head to the anal segment, and of equal width throughout. The lateral region bears a broad cream colored stripe uneven on its edges and enclosing some lengthened cuneilbrm patches of a reddish brown shade, faintly spotted with dull orange. Each segment bears a bunch of much branched tubercular spines, jet black, those of the anterior segments the longest. The ventral region is dull brown, with broad diffused central stripe of cream color. Head black, mouth parts tawny. Prolegs black, abdominal legs dull reddish. Length 35 mm. Widtli 6 mm. After 4th moult. — The ground color has now become pale buff, each segment dorsally bearing 4 black waved streaks. The subdorsal region is broadly black, with a buff ovate patch on each segment. Laterally the color is now much brighter, hav- ing changed to a dull crimson shade below the spiracles. Sitb-ventral region black, with red markings and a broad central stripe of dull buff. The bases of the bunches of spines are now cream color. Length 48 mm. Width 8 mm. Full gro'vn larva. — Iha whole of the dorsal and sulxlorsal regions are now bright bufT, the black stripes on the upper surface reduced to mere lines, which are slightly waved, and inclined to be confluent. In front, and at the sides of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and loth segments is a broad, triangular red patch, followed by a black line. The spiracles are cream color, and the space below them, immediately above the base of the legs is broadly black, and a red patch on the' alnterior and posterior edge of each segment, and many yellowish irrorations scattered over the surface. Ventral region dull yellow, with a cream colored central stripe. Head olivaceous. Legs all black, with the tips red, the anal plates also ot the latter color. The tips of the branched spmes only are black, the rest being a bright buff". Length 75 mm. Width 10 mm. -63- NOTES ON LEPIDOPTERA. By Henry Edwards. Gluphisia Tearlei. I (iiid that I made a great mistake in placing this species under the genus G/iip/iisia, and 1 hasten to correct my error. The original speci- men was taken 1)\- my fiieiul Osmond Tearle, at Lake Tahoe, California, and was in verv poor condilion, having lost its antenna^ part of one fore- wing, the fore legs, and a portion of the abdomen. I saw at once how- ever, that it was a new sf)ecies. and so described it, placing it where I then thought it belonged. Tlie receipt of some examples in excellent condi- tion, both (j^ and 9> f^""^^'" Mr. McGlashan, ofTruckee, proves to me quite conclusively that it is a Noctuid, allied to Thyaiira or more nearly to Bombvcia, Hliliner, in which latter genus it will for the present find its place. It must therefore be known as Bombvcia Tearlei, H}'. Edw., = Gluphisia Tearlei, Hy. Edw. (in error). Calledapteryx dryopterata, Grote. I took 6 examples of this beautiful little moth near Corona, L. I., last August. They were all at rest on the leaves of Poison Ivy {Rhus toxicodendrum) and were found within the area of a few yards, being probably all members of one brood. Their mode of sitting upon the leat reminded me of the PlerophoridcB—\he peculiar cut of the wing aiding the illusion. I saw two other specimens, but they escaped me by feign- ing death and dropping among the grass. The day was very warm, and the sun shone with considerable power upon the shining leaves of the Rhus. Calothysanis amaturaria, Packard. I caught two si)tcimens of this pretty species near Astoria in July, sitting on leaves of Sagi/laria, in a swampy place. It is, I believe, rather rare in collections. Seirarctia Echo, Ahh. & Sm. Two very fine exa;i,plcs of this rare moth, (^ and 9) were taken in April, at Cold Harlior, i-'lorida, by Mrs. A. T. Slosson. The following is not inapplicable to some of the American College collections, and even some private collectors might take the hint : T'rofessnr : — How many legs has an Insect.? Student: — Usually one or tw^o ; more rarely three or four, and in ex- ceptional cases even five. Professor : — What an extraordinary answer ! Ma}- I ask where you derived this mformation } Student: — Yes, sir : by an examination of the specimens in our university collection. — Fliegefide Blcetter. -64- Larva of a Large Species of HEPIALID^E, Phassus triangularis, Hy. luhv., from Vera Cruz, Mex. By VVm. Schaus, Jr. Larva. — Length, 4 inches. Head large and very powerful, black, well with- drawn under the second segment, which is dark brown, very broad and hard, and has a lateral depression. Segments 3 and 4 are rather contracted and very hard in texture, the 3rd being dor.^ally and laterally like old ivory, and the 4th having one anterior and two posterior spots of the same character, the three spots 1 eing almo.-t confluent. The rest of the body is a rich velvety brown, and on each se;^ment to tb.e I2th IS a large dorsal ovate spot, placed transversely and of harder consistency than the rest of the skin — these spots also being iv<;ry-yelIow. On segments five and six each are two small ivory-yellow dorsal spots posterior to the larger ones. Between all the spot- the skin has numerous transverse folds. Laterally, behind the stigma on each segment is a small round ivory spot, and below it an ivory line. Last seg- ment entirely velvety brown. The prolegs are very powerful and thick, and ivory- yellow. Underneath on segments five and six are sevei al s|)ots of the same hard formation and color as those of the upper surface, and the abdominal legs which are very short and also ivory -yellow. The larva bores a hole of great length (nearly 3 feet) and ustially quite into the roots of the tree, so that in some instances which have come under my observation, nothing was left but the bark of the root between the larva and the earth. The outlet is generally very near the ground, and is covered over with all the matter thrown out from the gal- lery made by the larva combined with a silky substance, the two together forming a pulpy inaterial, which hardens on exposure to the air, and be- comes tough in its nature. Before changing to a pupa the larva spins a silky lid which exactly fits the opening of the gallery, and is firmly at- tached only at one point. By raising this lid, one can see at a glance whether or not a larva or pupa is to be found, for the creature remains close to the outlet, but if once disturbed, it rapidly descends to some safer portion of the gallery, only returning when the danger has passed away. The pupa is nearly as active in its movements as tlie larva. I regret that 1 could not discover the .scientific name of the food plant, which is a low tree extremely abundant in the " Tierra templada " of the State of Vera Cruz, and is known to the Mexicans as " Guzanillo" or Maggot tree, owing to the frequency with which the larvae of the Hcp/a/i zxQ found in it. The moths emerge between 3 and 5 in the aftei- noon, but common as are the larvae, 1 never took the imago on the wing, my specimens being all obtained by breeding. Mr. Samuel Henshaav is now engaged, under the direction of Pruf. Riley, on the Bibliography of Economic Entomologw The task is an herculean one, and not particularly interesting though undoulitedly valuable. Mr. Henshaw has our sympathv. -65- A Proposed Classification of the Hemiptera. Bv William H. Ashmead. Jacksonville, Fla. F()r nearly ten years, the wriier has made the Hemiptera the object of special study, and below is submitted for the consitleration of those interested in these pungent insects, a proposed arrangement of the Divi- sions and Families recognized, in accordance wiih what is conceived to be their natural affinity and natural sequence, based on evolutionary law. Whether or not, the arrangement be accepted, it is believed that the student will find the analytical tables useful and valuable. It will also be observed that the Pcdiailida;, by some authorities classified with the mites Acarina, are included among the Heteropiera ; although some systematists, while classifjing them as hemipterous, con- sidered them to rank as a suborder under the name Parasitica. This arrangement, I have not followed, for the reason they seem to me, to be too closely related, in habits and structure, to the heteropterou.s families Polyctenidce and Cimicidce, to justily their separation. In general appearance, too. they so closely resemble — in a remark- able degree — the immature forms in the homopterous family Coccidte. that they' very naturally bridge the chasm separating the Homoptera from the Heieroptera, ?iX\A afford — by placing them at the head of the Heterop- iera, as has been done —the presentation of a natural cc>n.^ecutive sequence of all the hemipterous families Before giving the characters for sejiarating the divisions and families of the Hemiptera, it may be advisable to show the position and rank it is believed that this order should occupy in any natural scheme of arrange- ment of the so-called orders of insects, based on evolutionary law. I believe that the class Insecta, or those expressions of life classed by Zoologists as such — animals breathing through trachece — is represented to-day by two groups that came into existence in two distinct ways, being evolved, the one from the Crustacea, the other froin the Vermes, which may be disdnguished by the following very simple character : Insects with antenna; Cerata m Insects without antennte Acerata in The first group, or Cerata, originated from a crustacean ancestor and is represented to-day by the Myriapoda, Thysanura, Orthoptera. Neuroptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, and Hytnemp- tera ; while, the second group or Acerata, evolved from an ancestral worm-like form, is represented by the Z///_^'-/w/«/?'«c7, Tardigrada, A carina, Pedipalpi and Arachnida. -66— The simple character given above — with or without antennae — will enable any one to place at a glance any insect in its proper group. The ^vou^s Pedicu/ina, Mallophaga and Physopoda {— Thysanoptera, Hal.), therefore belong naturally to the orders originally assigned them by Bur- meister : the former, on account of their promuscidate mouth, go with the Hemiptera \ and the two last, on account of their mandibulate mouth and active pupa, go with the Orthoptera. Tlie following diagram, will demonstrate the relative position, that » it is believed the different orders should occupy in a natural scheme, and it may be well to compare it with a similar one, in the "Third Report of the U. S. Entomological Commission," page 295, to see how different is our conception of a natural arrangement, from that entertained by its learned author, Dr. A. S. Packard. INSECTS GENEALOGICAL TREE. Hymenoptera Arachnida Lepidoptera Diptera Pedipalpi -. I Coleoptera ^.- 1 Neuroptera 1 Hemiptera Orthoptera Thysanura Myriapoda Acarina CERATA Tardigrada Linguatuiina — |acerataj CRUSTACEA VERMES A classilication is at once demonstrated to be either good and natural, or false and artificial ; and its merits are soon recognized. The good and natural is accepted ; the false and artificial eliminated (»r rejected. It is not thought advisable, therefore, at this time, to enter into the merits or demerits of the many different classificatory schemes proposed for the arrangement of the Heiniptera ; they are familiar to all students and nothing is ever accomplished by such discussions. The following is our proposed arrangement of the Divisions and Families : ORDER HEMIPTERA. Mouth promuscidate ; metamorphosis incomplete. SUBORDERS. Winijs uniformly membranous or horny Suborder 1, HOMOPTERA. Front wings basally horny, aiii.-aily membranous ; hind win'.,'s memhranou-. Suborder II, HETEROPTERA. Suborder I, HOMOPTERA. TABLE OF DIVISIONS. Beak issuini^ from the inferior part of the head Div. I, AUCHENORHYNCHA, A. et S. Beak apparently issuing from the sternum Div. II, STERNORHYNCHA, A. et S. Division I, AUCHENORHYNCHA, Amyot et Serville. TABLE OF THE FAMILIES. Front wings most frequently opaque or parchment-like; hind wings membranous 2 All wings most frequently membranous or horny, strongly areolated. *Ocelli 3 on the vertex ; antennae setiform, placed between the eyes ; thorax nwrmal : fore femora thickened, toothed beneath ; males musical Fam. I, Cicadidae. **Ocelli most frequently 2, usually placed beneath the eyes or in hollow cavities in in the cheeks, a 3rd ocellus sometimes on the front ; antennae always placed beneath the eyes ; frons often produced, carinated. . . Fam. II, Fulgoridse. ***Ocelli 2 on the crown ; antennse between the eyes ; thorax abnormally developed, usually completely covering the scutellum ; legs foliaceous, prismatic or rounded Fam. Ill, Membracidae. 2 Thorax normal ; ocelli 2, seldom absent ; antenna; setiform, placed between the eyes. ■f-Qcelli always placed somewhere on the vertex Fam. IV, Cercopidae, If Ocelli always on the frons and below the superior margin Fam. V, Bythoscopidae. tf-f-Occlli in front of the eyes on the rounded edgeof the superior margin, but never on the vertex Fam. VI, Jassidae. Division II, STERNORHYNCHA, Amyot et Serville. TABLE OF THE FAMILIES. Tarsi i -jomted ^ Tarsi 2-jointed. Beak 3- or 4-jointed ; wings most frequently membranous. Antennte lo-jointed ; abdomen without honey tubes Fam. VII, Psyllidae Antennae 3- to 7-jointed ; abdomen frequently with honey tulies Fam. VIII, Aphidids Beak 2-jointed ; wings opaque, farinose Fam. IX, Aleurodidx 2 Males with only 2 wings, seldom apterous ; females always apterous, mite like antennre 6- to 11 -jointed ; and all the species reach maturity under waxy secre tions, filamentary down or in galls Fam. X, Coccidae —68— Suborder II, HETEROPTERA. TABLE OF DIVISIONS. Posterior coxct acetabiilate, rotating, with no femoral grooves Div. I, TROCHALOPODA, Schiodte, *Claws terminal, Subdiv. I, GEODROMICA, A-hmead. **Claws superposed Subdiv. II, HYDRODROMICA, Ashmead. Posterior coxk hinged, provided with temoral grooves Div. II, PAGIOPODA, Schiodte. fAntenntis always plainly visible .. .. Subdiv. I, GYMNOCERATA, Ashmead. ttAntennit hidden under cavities of the head Subdiv. II, CRYPTOCERATA, Ashmead. Division I, TROCHALOPODA, Schiodte. Subdivision I, GEODROMICA, Ashmead. ANALYTICAL TABLE OF THE FAMILIES. Winged : or if wingless with ocelli and always with a jointed beak 2 Wingless, ocelli wanting. Beak not jointed ; anterior tarsi 2-jointed Fam. XI, Pediculidae. Beak jointed. *AntennK short, 4Jointed, last joint fusiform ; beak 4-jointed ; anterior tarsi 3-jointed Fam. XII, Polyctenidae. ** Antenna; long, last joint long, setiform ; clypeus triangular Fam. XIII, Cimicidae. 2 Beak reposing in a groove 3 Beak not reposing in a groove. Elytra composed of a single piece, the membrane not being separated Fam. XIV, Ceratocampidae. Elytra composed of coritim, clavus, embolium, cuneus and membrane, seldom wanting ; clypeus elongated ; beak 3- or 4-jointed, tarsi 2- or 3-jointed Fam. XV, Anthocoridae. 3 ?ore legs raptorial ; or then body surrounded with foliaceous plates 4 Fore legs not raptorial ; tarsi 2-jointed. fElytra with reticulated nervures ; third antennal joint normal ; body very flat. . Fam. XVI, Aradidae. tfElytra strongly areolated, frequently vitreous ; third antennal joint abnormally lengthened; thorax strongly vesiculose or carinate. .Fam. XVII, Tingitidas. 4 Body often high, most frequently angulate ; elytra with remose nervures ; terminal antennal joint longest and thickest, fusiform Fam. XVIII, Phymatidse. Body very flat, surrounded by foliaceous plates or scales ; scutellum reaching nearly to the top of the abdomen . . . .Fam. XIX, Phloeidae. Body most frequently elongated, elongate oval or linear ; scutellum small triangu- lar or wanting ; while the antennre excepting in the family Ncpidci:., are plainly visible throughout their entire length 5 Body usually rounded, oval, or oblong oval, convex or highly convex ; the scutel- lum always large, frequently covering the entire abdomen ; while the basal joint of the antennae is more or less hidden by lateral projections of the head. *Scutellum usually short, flat, triangular, seldom lengthened, sometimes with a rounded tip. TibiiE strongly spined, or dilated Fam. XX, Cydnid^. **Scutellum large, convex, quite or nearly covering the whole abdomen. -69- Tibia- spinous ; tarsi 3- jointed Fam. XXI, Corimalaenidae. Tibia not spinous. Elytra folded ; tarsi 2-joiiited Fam. XXII, Arthropteridae. Elytra straight ; tarsi 3-jointed Fam. XXIII, Scutelleridae. ***ScuteIlum flattened, attenuated, usually rounded at tip, or long triangular, but not nearly covering the whole abdomen. Tibia not spined ; tarsi 2- or 3-jointed Fam. XXIV, Pentatomidae. 5 Beak cm ved at base ; head cylindrical ; prothorax with a transverse suture 7 Beak nut curved at base ; head not cylindrical. Antenna- inserted on a line below the eyes 6 Antenna inserted on a h'ne before the eyes. Membrane always with more than five nervures, often numerous. * Legs not especially slender, most frequently thickened, spined or foliaceous ; forms various '. Fam. XXV, Coreidae. **Legs long and slender, femora clavate Fam. XXVI, Berytid^. 6 Membrane with not more than five nervures. With ocelli Fam. XXVII, Lygaeidae. Without ocelli Fam. XXVIII, Pyrrhocoridas. Membrane with one or two cells ; no oceUi Fam. XXIX, Capsidae. 7 Head separated from the prothorax. ^Anterior legs not raptorial ; fore coxa not greatly lengthened. Beak usually long, slender, 4-jointed Fam. XXX, Nabidae. Beak usually short, stout, 3-jointed Fam. XXXI, Reduviidae. t;J; Anterior legs raptorial; fore coxa greatly lengthened .^ Fam. XXXII, Emesidae Head not separated from the prothorax. Abd-omen endmg in long, respiratory caudal seta ; antenna very -mall, 3- jointed Fam. XXXIII, Nepidse Subdivision II, HYDRODROMICA, Ashmead. Head inserted in prothorax. Head abnormally lengthened Fam. XXXIV, Hydrometridae. Head not greatly lengthened. *Ocelli and scutellum present Fam. XXXV, Gerrids. **Ocelli and scutellum wanting Fam. XXXVI, Velliida. Division II, PAGIOPODA, Schiodte. Subdivision I, GYMNOCERATA, Ashmead. Elytra areolated Fam. XXXVII, Saldidas. Subdivision II, CRYPTOCERATA, Ashmead. Body boat-shaped, supinate 2 Body depressed, prone. Legs not natatorial ; ocelli present. Eyes pedunculate Fam. XXXVIII, Galgulids. Legs natatorial ; ocelli wanting. Scutellum large. Abdomen without strap-like caudal seta Fam. XXXIX, Naucoridae. Abdomen with strap-like caudal seta Fam. XL, BelostomidEe. Scutellum invisible or minute. Head overlaps prothorax Fam. XLI, Corisidae. 2 Head inserted in prothorax ; legs natatorial Fam. XLII, Notonectidae. —70— The Faunal Limits of the United States. By Geo. D. Hulst. As the result of the collections and observations of Mr. E. A. Schwarz in Southern Florida last year, there has been, if we judge from the reports of their meetings, considerable discussion among our Washington Ento- mologists on the above subject. The opinion seems to h3,ve almost un- animously prevailed that the Fauna of Southern Florida ought to be cre- dited to the West Indies, rather than the United States. There is little probability however that this course will ever be carried out in the making up of our Faunal Lists, ist, from a sort of patriotism people regard their country as a unit and cherish all that is of their own country ; and as a consequence, nothwithstanding the vast reach of our country, very few Americans there are, who are, even in the sense of tak- ing the great divisions of the country, local collectors. Southern Florida will have its place as American in our collections and must go in our lists. 2nd, Faunal boundaries are so artificial and irregular that natural limitations ought to be taken even though they do not wholly correspond with the facts of the case. Thus the White Mountains of New Hamp- shire and the high Rockies and Sierras ought to have their insects credited to our Fauna and so put in our lists, though they are essentially Arctic. And thus in the future as in the past, the Florida Straits will probably re- main to be the Southern boundary line of our Fauna. 3rd, It may be questioned whether Southern Florida is essentially tropical. It may be a fact that the majority of the species are connected with the Tropics, but it may be properly inquired, is this comparativelv the truth. It is possible that it may have half the species found in New England, and while a majority of its species are found in the West Indies it may not have per- haps one quarter of those found in Cuba. It thus may be comparatively more like New England than the West Indies. 4th, Southern Florida is essentially situated much as Mt. Washington is in New Hampshire, that is it is cut off from its faunal connections. It is by the Everglades al- most entirely separated from the country which otherwise would probably give it the majority of its species, and it may not be unfair to locate it with the accident of real separadon taken into account. The Everglades probably form a greater barrier than the Straits. 5th, If Southern Florida is thrown out of our Faunal Lists, so must we throw out South Western Texas, Southern New Mexico, Arizona, and California. And on the other hand a long reach of the Mountain Region of Mexico must be taken in with our Fauna. It seems that though the line of National Boundaries m this case is not the line which would be selected by Naturalists as the true boundary line of our Fauna, it comes pretty near the truth ; if Naturalists were to map out the line perhaps no two would agree as to where the faunal line should be drawn. And it probably would have to resolve itself into a case of "lettins- well enoug:h alone." —71 — Lycaena Sonorensis, Feld, By W. G. Wright, San Bernardino, Cal. This most exquisite of all North American diurnals has for its habitat the Pacific Coast from latitude 37O to 27" and possibly to 25^' North, a range of 600 or 700 miles, the Southern limit not being yet determined. From the coast line it penetrates into the interior probably less than 100 miles, 60 miles being its limit of actual observation at present. While it is thus somewhat widely spread in comparison with some coast butterflies, it is always extremely rare and difficult to get. In ordinary years three or four examples are a fair catch. Only twice, eluring several years of active work, have I seen this insect flying in anything like numbers. The first time was in February, 1883, near Todos Santos Bay in Lower California, when I found it, as I thought breeding, and flying in plentiful numbers, but so old and worn that they were worth- less. The second time was this past Spring of 1888, 30 miles from this place, and ovipositing on Cotyledon laxa. By most persistent and labor- ous work I succeeded in getting a fine case full of the insects, and in securing eggs and larvae sufficient to establish all the stages, fur publica- tion. Nearly the whole of my material was obtained from a little bit of land two or three \ ards wide and twenty yards long. It is a little secluded pocket in the mountains, and so hidden and inconspicuous that I iirst passed by it on one side, seeing none flying, when really there must have been half a dozen flying within fifteen yards of me; but on returning, my chance let me across the pocket, and all at once I saw them in numbers. You may believe that a lively time followed. I got about a dozen that first day. But before I had caught half a dozen I had observed the queer flight of the females, close to the ground, or along the face of a damp rock, evidently plant-hunting. Presently one alighted on the thick suc- culent leaf of a Co/j^fe/o;?, left an egg, and flew away. Catching her as she flew, I dropped upon that plant, and found the ^zg. Then I had the whole secret, and, having the secret, it was but a matter of time. patience and work, to get the rest. I account it of more use and value to get the plant and the prepar- atory stages established than to get many butterflies, for while any one can catch a butterfly, not many can or will work it up. So, in this case, I tramped many a mile, and waded an icy stream more than five hundred times, to get a few little eggs and caterpillars that altogether weigh but .1 few grains. But it is done, and it will stand as long as books are printed'. Cotyledon was once considered a Seditm, but was separated because of material and technical variations. The leaves, which are the part eaten by the larvit, are thick and juicy with an insipid watery juice, and so soft that they may be mashed in the fingers into pulp that drips with water. The "house-leek" of the Eastern States is an approximate and familiar plant, in size and manner of growth, but the Cotyledon leaves are fewer, larger, thicker and more juicy. The larvae eat into the leaf, and burrow about under its skin, remaining hidden most of the time ; but an aperture is always open, and through it the ants follow the larva, per- sistently petting it, and living ofl" its juices. Some of the larva; that I have bred have been attended all through their captivity by some ants which would not leave them. Doubtless these ants have subsisted en- tirely upon the nutriment afforded by the larvae. Whether the larvae are pleased or vexed by the ants I cannot determine. At any rate they show no positive sign of either, while on the other hand, the larva; ofZ Aniyn- titla, w hich feed entirely hidden and shut in, shrink in dislike or fear from the touch of ants, and the ants never caress them to beg for food. It is a great pity that this lovely Lyccvna should be obliged to carry the handicapping of such a misnomer of a name as Sonorensis. 1 doubt if it ever flies in Sonora at all, I know the best collectors who of late years have worked there, and none of them have ever seen it there. In the early days of this coast, in the sixties, the collecting of plants and animals and the labelling of them were very carelessly and loosely done. Even a collector like Fremont was often grossly lax in his names and localities, and especially in Botany this laxity has caused immense vexa- tion and worry. So it must have been in the case of this Lyccvna, cre- dited to Sonora doubtless through carelessness or error. Or it may have been collected from some little ranch or Mexican settlement called Sonora in what is now the State of California, Several such " Sonoras "' still exist. But it cannot now be helped. We may at any rate console our- selves with the knowledge that this butterily is rare and beaudful enough to be able to stand up under its dead-weight, careless of the misnomer; that its silvery luster and carmine cheeks are so gem-like and delicious that It will always be sought after, so that after all the name is of little moment, for the insect itself is so incomparable and matchless that it shall live to fly and reign — a queen — forever. —73- Note on the Genus Platythyris, By a. R. Grote, A. M. In an article, Enlo, Am., Vol. IV, p. 27, speaking of the above genus, Mr. J. B. Smith, the author, says, that this genus contradicts nearly every family character of the Thyridce, to which Groie and Robin- son referred it. Boisduval, I believe, figured a species of this genus as Thyris vitrina. Dr. Clemens described the genus as l)elonging to the Turtricidce. Since we figured the more common species I have stated in print several times that the genus possihl}- belongs t<^) the Noc/uidce and I found allied Asiatic forms in the British Museum (as far as 1 recollect Felder figures one), recorded under the generic title Varnia. Consult our paper in Trans. Am. Ento. Society u])on INIr. Walker's types. Dr. Clemens describes the singular larva o'i PI ahihyr is {Dysodea is, I believe, preoccupied), and his description (Proc. Acatl. N. S. Phil., i860, p. 350) says that the larva is quite as peculiar as the perfect insect. The larva has a disagreeable odor and makes a c^ne cm Eupatorium agcraloides. This accords with Thyris larva in a vt-r\ strddng manner, as cited by Mr. Smith in the article referred to above. We made a tribal or subfamily division of the Thyridylvanicum. L. (Dwait Blueberry.) | Blueberry.) Urticaceae. Ulmus americana, L. (Am. Elm.) I UIuuh campestris, L. (English Ehii ) Ulmus fulva, Michx. (Slippery Elm.) | Juglandaceae. ;ory.) I Car ut.) I Car Cupuliferae. Carya alba, Nutt. (Shell-bark Hickory.) I Carya nmara, Nntt. (Bitter-nut.^ Carya tomtntosa, Nutt. (Mocker-nut.) \ Carya porcii.a, Nutt. (Pig-nut Hickory.) Quercus alba, L. (White Oak.) Quercus macrocarpa, Michx. (Bur Oak.) Quercus rubra, L. (Red Oak.) Quercus coccinea, Wang. (Scarlet Oak.) Queixus tinctoria, Bart. (Black Oak.) Quercu-i palu^tris, Du Roi. (Pin Oak.) Castania vesca, L. (Chestnut ) Fagus feriuginea. Ait. (Beech.) Fagus sylvalica, L. (European Beech.) Caipinus americana, Walt. (Hornbeam.) Betulaceae. Betula alba, L. (White Birch.) I Betula v. populifolia, Spach. (American I White Birch.) [No. 9.] EMPRETIA STIMULEA, Clem. Anacardiaceae. Rhus glabra, L. (Sumac.) Rosaceae. Prunus serotina, Ehr. (Wild Bl'k Cherry) Prunus virginiana, L. (Choke Cherry.) Rubus villosus, Ait. (Blackberry.) Rosa Carolina, L. (Swamp Rose.) Rosa blanda, Ait. (Wild Rose.) Pyrus coronaria, L. (Crab-apple.) Pyrus malus, L. (Apple. ) Crataegus coccinea, L. (Thorn.) Amelancliier canadensis, L. (June- beriy.) Hamamelaceae. Liquidambar styraciflua, L. (Sweet-gum.) Cornaceae. Cornus florida, L. (Dogwood.) 1 Cornus stolonifera, Michx. (Osier Dog- i wood.) Caprifoliaceae. Viburnum dentatum, L. (Arrow-wood.) [ Viburnum lentago, L. (Sheep-berry.) Compositae. Aster corymbosus, Ait. Vacciniaceae. Vacciniiim corynibosum, L. (Huckle- I Vaccinium pennsylvanicum, L. (Huckle- berry.) [ berry.) Myricaceae. Mynca cerifera, L. (Bayberry.) Cupuliferae. Hetula alba, L. (Birch.) Corylus americana, Walt. (Hazel.) Corylus rostrata, Ait. (Em-op. Hazel.) Ouercus albn, L. (White Oak.) (^)uercus coccinea, Wantj. (Scarlet Oak.) (^)uercus macrocarpa, Michx. (BiuOdk.) Quercus palustris, Du Roi. (Pin Oak.) (Juercus prinus, L. (Chestnut Oak,) Quercus rubra, L. (Red Oak.) Quercus tinctona, Bart. (Black Oak.) Castania vulgaris, v. Americana, Michx- (Chestnut.) [No. lo.] HALESIDOTA TESSELLATA, A. & S. Tiliaceae. Tiiia americana, L. (Basswood.) I Tilia alba. (WHiite Bass wood.) Tilia Europea;, L. (European Linden.) | Leguminosae. Kobinia hispida, L. (Rose Acacia.) I Robinia pseudacacia, L. (Common Kobinia viscosa, Vent. (Clammy Locusil | Locust.) Hamamelaceae. Hainanulii Virginiana, L. (Witch Hazel.) Sapindaceae. Acer dasycarpum, Eiir. (Silver Maple.) Acer p-eudo-plataniis, L. (Mock Plane Tree.) Acer rubrum, L. (Red Maple.) Negundo aceroides, Moench. (Box- wood.) Rosaceae. Amelaiichier canadensis, L. (June-berry.) Ericaceae. Vaccinunn corynibosum, L. (Huckle- I Vaccinium pennsylvanicum, Lam. berry.) | (Huckleberry.) Urticaceae. Ulmus americana, L. (Am. Elm.) ] Ulmus fulva, Michx. (Slippery Elm.) —77— Platanaceae. Platanus occ^dentalis, L. (Sycamore.) Juglandaceae. Carya alba, L. (Shell-bark Hickory.) Carya microcarpa, Nutt. (Small Fruited Hickory.) Juglans cinerea, L. (Butternut.) Juglans nigra, L. (Black Walnut.) Cupuliferae. Betula alba, L. (White Birch.) Carpinus Americana, Michx, (Horn- beam.) Corylus Americana, Walt. (Hazel.) Corylus rostrata, Ait. ( Hazel.) Quercus alba, L. (White Oak.) Quercus coccinea, Wang. (Scarlet Oak.) Quercus macrocarpa, Michx. (Bur Oak ) Quercus palustris, Du Roi. (Pin Oak.) Quercus tinctoria, Bart. (Black Oak.) Fagus ferruginea. Ait. (Beech.) [No. II.] PYROPHILA PYRAMIDOIDES, Guen. Vitaceae. Vitis cordifolia, Miclix. (Winter Grape,) I Vitis labrusca, L. Northern Fox I Grape.) Leguminosae. Cercis canadensis, L. (Judas Tree.) Rosaceae. Prunus virginiana, L. (Choke Cherry.) Prunus serotina, Ehr. (Wild Black Cherry,) Rubus villosus. Ait. (Blackberry.) Pyrus malus, L. (Apple.) Pyrus communis. (Pear,) Hamamelaceae. Liquidambar styraciflua, L. (Sweet Gum.) Caprifoliacese. Viburnum dentatum, L. (Arrow-wood.) Juglandaceae. Carya alba, L. (Shell-bark Hickory.) I Carya sulcata, Willd. Carya amara, Nutt. (Bitter-nut.) | Cupuliferae. Quercus alba, L. (White Oak.) Quercus macrocarpa, Michx. (Bur Oak.) Quercus palustris, Du Roi. (Pin Oak.) Q)uercus rubra, L. (Red Oak.) Quercus coccinea, Wang. (Scarlet Oak. ) Quercus tinctoria, Bart. (Black Oak.) Salicacese. Populus balsamifera, L. (Balsam j Populus grandidentata, Michx. (Large- Poplar.) I toothed Aspen.) Populus dilatata, L. (Lombardy Poplar.) I Populus tremuloides, Michx. (American Populus monilifera. Ait. (Cotton-wood.) | Aspen.) -7S~ Allegheny, Pa., May 31st, 1888. Editor Entomologica Americana. Dear Sir : — Permit me to make a few remarks on a paper in the April number of Ento. Am., "Thoroughness in Entomological Tables," which I read with some amazement. The writer, as I interpred it, ex- hibits the Classification of the Coleoptera of North America, the various tables of genera, synopses, &c. , as examples of synthetic work, not very perfect however; and classes their several authors as "Synthesists with a philanthropic desire," etc. A greater misconception can scarcely be imagined and how it oc- cured is outside of my apprehension, but there it is in printers' ink. The slate of Coleopterological Science in this or any other country, as is well known, does not permit more than the feeblest attempts at syn- thetic work ; Dr. Leconte tried a single genus — Nebria, Lee, U. S. Geol. Surv. Bui. 4, No. 2, p. 473. ' In Europe, the learned Dr. D. Sharp, after giving an exhaustive analysis of the DytiscidcB of the world, tried his hand at a synthetic ex- hibition. Any one desirous of seeing Analysis and Synthesis in one view would do well to consult this scholarly memoir. Again, the author has trouble with a hypothetical Badister which he can not trace to the proper genus by the tables in the Classification, page 21, without resorting to a lengthy empirical process. How he expected to gain the desired end from what he declares a synthetic composition by an analytical method is not very evident, but he states the scheme would work well enough, if the tables were "longer and more complex" and if every thing else was right. In school pupils are reprimanded for offering a criticism without the proper correction. Were the author to present a sample of some coleopterological work as he conceives it should be done for comparison with that done by others, the value of the two systems or plans could be better estimated. If, as he says, "the present method of tabular statements of genera and species inflicts such great incon- venience and loss of time upon our students," and the author knows of a better as he intimates, by giving Science the benefit of his discovery all would cordially recognize in him a benefactor, and especially the writer. A single genus would do as a sample, as Brachynus ; or a small family might be exhibited, say the HeteroceridcB or the Cioidce, all of which are as yet virgin soil as it were — unoccupied territory. The above is not written in the spirit of captious cridcism but as a candid expression of the opinion of the writer on the points treated of Yours &c. , John Hamilton. —79— Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The Annual meeting of the above Association will be held in the citv of Cleveland, Ohio, August, 1888. The entomological section will hold its first meeting in the High School Building, 9 A. M., August 15th. It is very much desired that the meeting of the section be as suc- cessful as possible. And we therefore urge not only the attendance ot Entomologists but as well specific preparation against the meetings that there may be a presentation of papers and a taking part in discussion which will make the meetings a profit and an inspiration. Dr. A. J. Cook of Agricultural College, Mich, is the Secretary of the section and we are earnestly requested by him to ask entomologists to send to him as soon as possible the subjects of intended papers and before the meeting, as well abstracts of the same ♦-^-♦^ The American Museum of Natural History at Central Park, . New York, has secured the services of Mr. William Beuienmiiller as Curator of the Entomological Department. Mr. Beutenmiiller has for several years made a general study of Entomology and more lately has made a specialty of the Tineidce The Central Park collection which formerly contained manv types of Giote and Robinson as well as those of Robm- son's Tortricidce has been almost totally destroyed by A7ithrenus—-AX\di what is left is practically valueless. The officials have taken now the right step for a collection, in securing for what is obtained in the future, the care of a very promising and active Entomologist. Book Notices. We have received Bulledn No. 2 of the Experiment Station of Florida. In this Mr. Wm. H. Ashmead of Jacksonville who has been ap- pointed Entomologist publishes notes on various insect pests. We wish however to call attention to the fact that in this report he describes two new species of Diptera, Aphidiiis flavicoxa and Pachyneuron maidaphidis. We have no objection whatever that descriptions of new species should be given in these bulletins and corresponding publications and reports. But we do claim that thereby the author is doing work which will entail no end of trouble and vexation on posterity We have now or soon will have some 40 or more Experiment Stations each under law publishing a Bulletin at least every three months. If original descriptions made in these are to be recognized, one can see what a library — almost entirely waste paper to him— the Entomologist must have, if, indeed, he can obtain these reports. It is an easy matter for every describer of new species to have the species as well published in some regular Entomo- logical journal and in the interest of future Scientists we beg that this may always be done. This is said only as the report before us gives us the occasion. Some of our best Entomologists not recognizing the evil have described in State or United States Bulletins and Reports only, and so have unwitdngly —So- set a very bad example. We hope such of our Entomologists as may indulge in species building hereafter will see that their descriptions are published where students have a right to look for them and can without waste of time and labor find them. Society News, The Brooklyn Entomological Society met June 5th. 17 members present. The Treasurer reported all bills paid — cash in hand $26.48, and outstanding credits of nearly Sioo. The special order of the evening — the question of uniting with the Brooklyn In- stitute and becoming its entomological section — was taken up and it was unanimously resolved that the Brooklyn Entomological Society accept the invitation of the Brook- lyn Institute to unite with it upon the terms ofTered, with the underatandmg it would be on the basis that the Brooklyn Entomological Society will not surrender it cor- porate existence. A committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Graef, Roberts, Pearsall and Hulst, to meet with the authorities of the Brooklyn Institute and make tinal arrangements for the completion of the proposed co-operative union. A paper by Dr. John Hamilton of Allegheny, Penn.. was read on the subject " Thoroughness in Entomological Tables " * being a brief review of an article in Ento. Am. by Lieut. Casey on the same subject. The paper elicited considerable discussion. A paper by Mr. W. G. Wright of San Bernardino, Cal.,** giving a very interest- account of the life history of the most elegant of American butterflies— Z,jr«-«fl! sono7'- ensis — wsLS also read. The meeting closed with exhibition and identification of specimens. Ento. Soc. Washington, June 7th, 1888. Nine members present. Prof. Riley read some notes on Fromtba and Yucca pollination, in refutation of Mr. Hulst's conclusion in Ento. Am., vol. II, p. 1S4. He explained why, in his opinion pollination by bees is almost impossible, and gave in some detail the results of experiments in artificial pollination. Finally he is more than ever confirmed in his published views on this subject. Some discussion on this paper was had between Prof. Riley, Messrs. Schwarz, Howard and Smith, largely in relerence to habits of bees. Prof. Riley exhibited some new and interesting Micro-I>epidoptera, among them types of a new genus which he will describe as Walsinghaniia and of a new Sitmrthis which he will describe as S. fernaldi. He also made some remarks on the Hessian- fiy showing that all references to the occurence of the species prior to the Revolution said to be tound in the minutes of the Philosophical Soc. were based on an error, and Dr. Hagen's arguments based on this point, fail. Mr. Howard showed drawings of a new and remarkable Chalcid from California which he proposes to call Rileya splendens. The genus is compared with Ceraptero- ccrns, Westwood, differing as follows : Face not elbowed in the middle so as to give a triangular profile to the head, but is gently rounded and has a strong glistening transverse clean-cut ridge just above the insertion of the antennje, which are stouter, and with a more concave scape than with Cerapteroceriis. The mesoscutellum has a strong tuft of erect black hairs as in Chiloneiiriis, but which is lacking in Ceraptero- ceriis. The stigmal vein is given off immediately at the juncture of the submarginal with the costa, and is a trifle longer than the postmarginal. The submarginal is 31/2 times as long as the stigmal. The postmarginal, the distal third of the submarginal, and the wing disc just below this last, heavily clothed with short, stout bristles. The l)ody is highly polished and the wings are not hyaline. The metanotal spiracles are large, long-oval and oblique, and the abdominal spiracles are very prominently tufted. Ovipositor protruded only in specimens killed in the act of oviposition. Messrs. Howard, Riley and Schwarz discussed the methods of oviposition in some Parasites, and the uses of the often strangely modified antenn;^ of the 9 • Mr. Schwarz read a list of TerDietophiliis Coleoptera found in the U. S. with notes on the species. The probable habits of the species and connection with their hosts was discussed by Messrs. Schwarz, Howard and Riley. John B. Smith, Rcc. Secretary. " Published in the present number, p. -8. *'' Published in the present number, pp 71 and 72. VOL. IV. BROOKLYN, JiUGUST, 1888. NO. 5. Preliminary Survey of the CICAD^A of the United States, Antilles, and Mexico. By p. R. Uhler (Continued from pai;e 23, \'ol. IV.) 3. P. minor, new sp. Form !iearly th;it of P. piitnami ; color a lironze black, more highly polished c.pon the tergum than elsewliere ; the surface, excepting the tergum and notuni in- v^stfd with long gray, or yellowish hairs and with white hairs ai'ound the meso- thoracic cro.-s. Head and thoiax miniilely rough and wrinkled, oveispread with minute appressed bronze thread-scales. Vertex transversely scooped out anteriorly, and broadly sinuated between the eyes and posterior margin ; middle of the base longitudinally excasated, and having a nearly con.plete inipiessid line each side ; an- tenna stout, black, the basal joint tipped with yellow, the apical joint testaceous, supra-antennal plate orange yellow ; fioiit having the sulcus distnict from the base to l^elow the middle, aiid thence expanding and becoming effaced, witli the margins distinctly carinated, and the transverse grooves distinct : face and epistoma with long blackish and white hairs ; outer margin of the cheeks and a faint clot at the base of vertex in the groove yellow. Pronotuin sub quadrangular, wrinkled, the middle line obst)letely impressed anteriorly, convex and polished posteriorly ; the lateral margins moderately curved, sinuated before the humeral angles, which latter are blunt tri- angular and turned up, jiosterior margin feebly concave with the edge yellow ; pleural pieces, flaps and acetabulce margined more or less broadly with yellow ; the whole underside bronze-black, minutely scabrous, densely coated with silvery scales and long white hairs. Legs flavo-piceous, clotlied with long remote white hairs and bristles, the coxae, knees, and tarsi dark piceous. Wing-covers hyaline, somewhat tinged with fulvous at base, the nervures of the apical cells, as well as the one form- ing the inner margin, piceous black, the radial nervure paler piceous ; posterior limbs of the mesothoracic cross and surface each side thereof while; membrane of base of wings and basal portion of nervures white. —82 — Length to tip of anal prolongation i6 — 17 mm. ; to tip of closed wings 22—23 mm.; width of base of pronotum S'/\—6 mm. Only males of this neat little species have been brought to my notice. The cell opened by the separation of the postcostal ulnar nervure from the postcostal one is longer in this than in the other species. Three spe- cimens examined Irom Southern California. Mr. Morrison secured for me, in Nevada, se\-eral very small speci- mens belonging to this genus Platypedia, which measure only 17 — 18 mm. to the tip of the closed wing-covers ; but they appear to be only dwarfed specimens of /*. //////r7?;«'. Thev are not nearly as hair\- as the new species here described, and chiefly display in miniature the charac- teristics o{ P. piitnami, as we find it in the same section of our country By counting the postcostal areole as the first ulnar, we have six areoles across the wing-cover, instead of the usual five. The commonly cited second ulnar (third of our method) is longer and more nearly tri- angular in the new than in the other species previously described. Platypedia piitnami x's, figured in Proceedings of the Davenport Aca- demy of Natural Sciences, Vol. II, 1880, pi. IV, fig. 2, 3. CALYRIA, Stael. C. occidentis, Walk. {^Cephaloxvs,) British Mus. List; Homopt. Suppl.- p, 36. Calyria virginea, Stivl. Stettin Ent. Zeit., Vol. XXV, 1864, p. 56, 379. Distant, Biol. Cent. Amer. Homopt., p. 19, i. Hitherto found only near Vera Cruz, Mexico ; unless narrow speci- mens o( JAVf^w/.sv^/A?/),;?/-?'///;?, Say, which lack one of the apical areoles of the wings, should prove to be the same as the Mexican form given as the type. Several specimens of J/ parvida have been examined by my- self, in which six apical arciiles were present in the one wing and five in the opposite one. PRUNASIS, Stael. P. venosa, new sp. Tale green, or faded stiaw yellow, feebly pubescent ; form nearly the same as that ol yl/i/'rtw/j,-/?/,^/,?;-!'///;?, but witli the abdomen less contracted at tip. Vertex with a belt ot large dusky spots extending from eye to eye, but sometimes obsolete, so as to leave only one large spot on the centre and enclosing the ocelli ; supra-anten- nal plates more or less dusky ; front banded with fuscous between the transverse ridges, the middle line infuscated wider above and interrupted there by a dagger- shaped yellow mark ; antennas yellow, piceous at tip of second joint and base of third ; rostrum reaching to near the tip of posterior coxpe, with the apex more or less infuscated. Pronotum transverse, smooth on the middle line with the oblique im- pressed lines each side well defined, and the surface curvedly wrinkled between them; the lateral margins feebly sinuated, very narrow, but abruptly expanded, reflexed and impressed at the humeri ; meso-notum moderately convex, a little sinuated each side, with four ob-deltoid obscure fuscous spots, of which the two inner are very -83- short, or even ol^solete ; tlie tip scale-like, arched, and feebly sinuatcd at tip with the inner liars of the cross terminated wiih black ; mesosternal process acute, deeply sul- cated, and with the edge strongly rellexed. Wing-covers milky-hyaline, with the costa, basal, and ulnar veins green, but with the veins of the discoidal areoles (except at base), and ihose of the apical areoles piceous-black, sometimes with the latter bordered also with piceous. Opercula confined to the basal segment, narrow, placed obliquely, subreniform ; the metasternum very wide between them, triangularly pro- duced over the following segment, scale-like, subtruncate at tip, tymbals delicate, small, subovate, sepai-at^-cl by a wide, pubescent segment, which has a broad triang- ular emargination behm i. Superior genital llap^ accummate and recurved at tip. Length to tip of abdomen ii — 13 mm. Expanded v\ing covers 31 — 32 mm. Width of pronotum across the middle 3'/., —4 mm. Ffc^m jMitidle and Soulhern Texas, nut on the coast. Only males have thus far been examined ; three specimens of which are at present in my collection. The venation is coarser than in anv of the small Cicadas whicli 1 liave had the opportunity to examine. PROARNA, Stael. 1. P. pulverea, OKv. {Cicadd,) Enc. Meth., V, p. 759. No. 61, Germar, Thon. Ent. Archiv, II, p. 43, 82. Proarna piilvcrea, Sta;l. Siettin Ent. Zeit., Vol XXV, 1864, p. 61. Vera Cruz, Cordova and other parts of Mexico. I liave examined in all fifteen specimens of this insect from various localities and find it to be fully as variable as P. alln'da, Oliv. from Coota Rica. x\s the absence or presence of the vittoe upon the vertex, markmg of the scutellum and intensity of color of the spots on the wing-covers vary according to the condition of the specimen and its prefiaraticm after capture. I see no reason to separate it from the typical P. gn'sea, Fabr. , as described by Dr. Slash The prominence of the front &c. depends in part upon the de- gree of shrinkage to which a specimen has been subjected afier death. Only well matured specimens of the Hemiptera should be used in draw- ing up descriptions ; as all others will give only unsatisfitctory and de- ceptive inferences. Besides, if the head is shrunken a little into the thorax, so as to raise the fore part of the vertex to a somewhat higher level, the front will appear correspondingly more prominent. The mode of curing and drying specimens of the G'cWtz'a makes an important difference in their value for classification, as I have had occasion to know, full well in the tropics, and more abundantly in handling hundreds of specimens of T. sep/endecim and other species in various parts of North America. Both sexes, too, are almost indispensable in correctly organizing species, as the one supplements the other in yielding distinctive characters. 2. P. albida, Oliv. {Cicada,) Enc. Math. V, p. 755, No. 39. Proarna albida, Stael. Stettin Ent. Zeit., Vol. XX\', 1864, p. 61. One specimen from Southern Mexico. This seems to be a verv -84— common species in Costa Rica and near Panama. I have seen, also, specimens from Demerara, and from the region of the lower Amazon, beyond Para. It is a much narrower form than the P. pulverca, Oliv. , and has the curvetl vein of the costal anastomosis more slender, and not black as in that species. Forms which partly connect the two foreg-oing species occur at San- tarem, also in Peru near the headwaters of the Amazon, also others in the province of Rio de Janeiro, and near Montevideo. The males in this section of the genus usually have a spur at the apex of the teguice. 3. P. sallei, Stael. {Proarna,) Stetlm Ent. Zcit., Vol. XXV, 1864, p. 61. Inhabits the vicinitv of Vera Cruz, Mexico. 4. P. championi, Di-t. Diol. Cent. Amer. llemipt. Homopt. 18S1, p. 12, No. 4. It has been taken in the province of Tamaulipas, and other parls of Mexico, and has been reported by Mr. Distant as having been found in (juatemala and Costa Rica. 5. P. signifera. Walk. {Cu■ada,^ British Mu'^. List Homopt. SuppL, p. 22. Pioania signifera, Dist. Biol. Cent. Amer. Homopt., 1881, p. 13, No. 5. This appears to be a common species in Northern Mexico; but ^Ir. Distant cites other localities for it, as Orizaba, V'alladolid in Yucatan, and Torola, Guatemala. 6. P. maura, Dist. Biol. Cent. Amer. Homopt., 1S81, p. 13, pi. II, fiir. 5. This is a common species in Mexico and is very variable in size. It is reported also from Yucatan by Mr. Distant. 7. P. longirostris, Dist. Biol. Cent. Amer. Homopt., 18S1, p. 13, pi. II, fig. 4. Inhabits Mexico. It resembles the preceeding species in form, but has a much longer rostrum, and lacks the broad tract at the base of the wings. 8. P. valvata, new sp. Robust, form nearly that of P. tnaiira, Dist., piceous-black. Head includint,^ the eyes scarcely wider than the forepart ot the pronotum ; vertex depressed, transversely impressed, and excavated at each end of the impression; three longitudinal deeply impressed lines, of which the middle one is interrupted by the central ocellus, and the lateral ones start above in a concavity and unite below with the boundary incis- ures of the front ; an oval ochreous spot occupies a sunken spot before the central ocellus, a similar spot is placed at the upper end of each lateral incised line, the an- terior margin of the supra-antennal plate is also ochreous, and there is a long ovate spot of the same color on the summit of the front ; face tawny or testaceous, sericeous pubescent, front having the middle impressed line obsolete, the costate lines sharply defined each side ; rostrum reaching to behind the middle coxje ; antennje tawny -85- testaceous. Pronotum piceou?, minutely pubescent, convex, much narrowed an- teriorly, the fore-margin moderately arcuated, with the edge reflexed, an interrupted hooked ochroous vitta runs from near the inner corner next the eye to the transverse impressed liiiC dividing the lobes, a spot of the same color near the anterior angle, and a diaL;oiial vitta near the humeral angle; the two exterior areas of the disk mai ked witli cui ved coarse wrinkles, posterior lobe depressed, transversely wrinkled, having the posterior angles ]iroductd, long, wide, with the outer corners a little rounded ; me^onotum convex, minutely pid)escent densely and finely shagreened, marked with a twicedoopcd ochieous line which runs back to behind the middle of the disk, lind)s of the mesothoracic cross yellow, connected anteriorly with a short curved streak of the same color, reflexed posterior and lateral margins also ochreous, the latter covered with silvery pubescence when fresh ; cavities each side and before the cross also silvery pubescent. Exposed part of the metanotum, and adjoining margin of the abdominal segment ochreous. Wings hyaline, tinged with dull ochre- ous at base, veins of the wing covers testaceous (green when fresh?) more or less in- terrupted with fuscous, the costal nervurc fuscous, margined and interrupted with testaceous, excepting the apical portion, the two transverse veins which are marked with the brand a little curved, — the brand is either present or absent, or sometimes forms only a faint vestige ; apical series of nervures fuscous in old specimens; nerv- ures of the wings greenish-testaceous, those of the forward portion and bases of all the coarser nervures fuscous. Beneath testaceous or pale green, pruinose, minutely pubescent. Legs fringed with close white hair, the anterior and middle tibia"', the anterior femora and tarsi, tips of the tarsi, nails and spines piceous. Opercula pale, long and wide, overlapping along their inner margin, broadly rounded behind, extending far back, so as to leave only five ventral segments fully exposed. Abdomen blunt conical, tergum piceous, but with the base, last segment, excepting the black patch at tip, and a large sub-quadrate spot on the segments next behind the tymbals, ochreous. Areoles of the wing-covers generally wider than in P. maura. Last seg- ment of venter and also the inferior genital segment of the male triangular emarginate: superior genital cover acuminate. Length to tip of abdomen 28 — 30 mm.; to tip of closed wing-covers 42 — 45 mm. Width across base of pronotum l2'/„ — 13 mm. Several specimens of this species have passeci through my hands, but at present only three males remain in my collection. One of these is from the vicinity of the Pecos river in Texas, and the others were captured in Arizona. A male specimen from Camp Grant, Arizona, had a much longer rostrum than the types, and it was also destitute of the brown brand of the winij-covers. To the Food Plants o{ Empretia stimulea given by Mr. Beutenmiiller we can add from personal observation Prunus cerasus (Common Cherry) and Smilax rotundifolia (Catbrier). Indeed, we have it found more commonly upon the latter than upon any other food plant. Mr. Hubbard reports it feeding upon the Orange in Florida. To the food plants of Apafela americana we can add Riihus villosus {W^'!i.c\.h&x\y) 2Lnd Robinia pseiidacacia {l^ocMSi). G. D. H. —86— HANDLING WASPS WITHOUT HARM. flV. L. Wlldc-r in Scifiiw.) "It is a fact not generall\- known that if one holds his breath wasps, bees, and hornets can be handled with impunity. The skin becon^es sting-proof, and, holding the insect by the feet and giving her full liberty of action, you can see her drive her weapon against the impenetrable surface with a force that lifts her body with every stroke ; l)Ut let the smallest quantity of air escaj)e from the lungs and the sting will penetrate at once. I have never seen an exception to this in 25 years' oliservaiion. I have taught young ladies with very delicate hands to astonish their friends by the performance of this feat, and I saw one so severely suing as to require the services of a physician through laughing at a witty re- mark of her sister, forgetting that laughing required breath. For a theory in explanation I am led to believe that hokhng the breath jiartially closes the pores of the skin. My experiments in that direction have nut been exact enough to be of any scientific value, but I am satisfied that it veiy sensibly affects the amount of insensible pers{)iration.'' The above is sent us by Mr. J. B. Smith, who adds: — "1 triet! it with a y Polisles and got stung just as 1 expected." We think it very probable (if the whole matter be not intended as a practical joke to lead credulous people to suffer I'rom their credulity,) that the author of the above has happened to have' experience only with male specimens of the Hymenoptera. In these parts and in Washington also, as we should judge from Mr. Smith's experience, it takes more than a holding of the breath to cause the aggressive activity of the bu^ine^s end of a 9 wasp or hornet to drop into " innocuous desuetude." We will however keep the matter in mind, and when next lime we find the irre- pressible "small boy" daring the wrath of Bumblebees for the sake of a few cells of honey, will tell him of this "easy method," and will at a safe distance from boy and bee watch how it works. If we were given to betting, we would give odds that after the experiment there would be no holding of the " small bovs" breath. G. D. H. -*"♦-♦- In the Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung, 1887, Vol. 48, p. 314, the following "self-acting" apparatus for separating the Insects from siltings is described : — " Into a wide-mouthed bottle place a cork through which the stem of a wide glass funnel is fitted. Place the siftings into a round pasteboard box which fits snugly to the mouth of the funnel and punch into the bottom a series of small holes. The Insects will make for the gleams of light, get out through the holes and eventually drop into the bc'ttle below. " — All extremely ingenious, whether practical or not is an- other question ! J. B. Smith. -87- A Revised Generic Table of the CHALCIDlNiE. By William H. Ashmead. Jacksonville, Florida. TABLE OF GEXERA. Anteniire inserted near or not far from the mouth 8 Antennae mserted on the middle of the face or slightly below it. Head without long projections in front and not deeply excavated 2 Head with long projections and deeply excavated. Metatliorax strongly bidentate. AntentiK i2-jointcd (Gen. I ) Dirrhinus, Dalman. Antennae 13-jointed (Gen. 2) Eniaca, Kirby. 2 Scutellum armed or produced 7 Scutellum unarmed. Metatho: ax with a lateral tooth or projections 6 Metathorj.x not toothed, without projections. Ovipositor not long, usually hidden 3 Ovipositor exserted longer than the body. Posterior femora armed with about 8 teeth (G. 3) Podagrion, Spinola. Posterior femora with one large tooth, followed by several smaller ones (G. 4) Protoceras, Kirby. 3 Abdomen not much produced 4 Abdomen much produced. Antennce 13-jointed ; abdomen acutely roundedly produced (G. 5) Phasgonophora, Westwood. Antenna; li -jointed. *Abdomen triangularly produced (G- 6) Trigonura, Sichels. **Abdomen produced into a long slender stylus ..(G. 7) Thaumatelia, Kirby 4 Middle tibias spurred 5 Middle tibite not spurred. Antennas 12- or 13-jointed. Posterior femora armed with one or two teeth, followed by numerous smaller ones (G. 8) Smicra, Spinola. AntennjB 14-jointed. First abdominal segment occupying most of its surface (G. 9) Epitranus, Walker. 5 Posterior femora armed with many small teeth. Petiole long ; abdomen conic ovate (G. 10) Spilochalcis, Thomson. Petiole very short ; abdomen sub-globose (G. 11) Chalcis, Fabricius. 6 Metathorax with 2 projections on each side ; posterior femora armed with 6 to 8 large teeth ; petiole long (G. 12) Diplodontia, n. g. Metathorax with one large tooth on each side ; posterior femora armed with 6 large teeth (G. 13) Metadontia, n. g. ~S8— 7 Scutellum with a short, thick projection behind. *PetioIe short. Metathorax with two teeth on each side ; posterior femora armed with 7 or S teeth (G. 14) Pseudochalcis, Kn liy. Scutellum ending in a raised bidcntate plate ; posterior femora re;4ularly denti- cuLate ; antennoe 12-jointed (G. 15) Megalocolus, Kubv, **Petiole long. Scutellum bidentate, Metathorax unarmed. Hind coxre with leaf-like projections; antennas i4-j6i:ited : posteiior femora armed with one large tooth and several smaller ones .... (G. 16) Epin^us, Kiiby. Metathorax with two teeth on each side. Posterior femora armed with one large tooth and 5 or 6 smaller ones ; antennce 13. jointed (G. 17) Stypiura, Kirby . Posterior femora with numerous depressed punctures and with lai-t;e teeth; antenna- 13-jointed (G. 18) Epitelia, Kiiliy. 8 Petiole short. Ovipositor exserted as long as the abdomen . (G. 19) Acanthochalcis, Cameron. Ovipositor short, usually hidden ; posterior tibia.' 2-spurred. Posterior femora toothed g Posterior femora not toothed. Metathorax without spines. Scutellum usually bidentate, seldom simple. Antenna; 1 1 -jointed (G. 20) Stomatocera, Kirby. Antennre 12-jointed (G. 21) Antrocephalus, Kirby. Antenna; 13-jointed (G. 22) Haltichella, Spiiiola. Scutellum produced into a long spine (G. 23) Aspirhina, Kirby. Metathorax with a spine on each side. AntennK 12-jointed ; wings variegated (G. 24) Trichoxenia, Kirby. 9 Metathorax with a projection on each side 10 Metathorax without projections at sides. Posterior femora with a single large tooth ; antennae 12-jointed (G. 25) Notaspis, Walker. Posterior femora with a prominent projection in the middle ; antennae ii-jointed (G. 26) Euchalcis, Dufour. Antennre 13-jointed (G. 27) Neochalcis, Kirby. Posterior femora with two obtuse teeth and minutely denticidate '..... (G. 2S) Hockeria, Walker. Posterior femora armed with one large tooth and finely serrated ; petiole long. . (G. 29) Anacryptus, Kirby. Posterior femora with 7 large teeth (G. 30) Chalcitella, Westwood. Posterior femora with many small teeth (G. 31 1 Arretocera, Kirby. Posterior femora with the apical half minutely denticulate (G. 32) Conura, Spinola. 10 Antenna; simple, 12-jointed (G. 33) Hybothorax, Ratzburg. Antenna; flabellatc, lo-jointed (G. 34) Hippota, Walker. -89- LIST of the SPHINGID.^ of TEMPERATE NORTH AMERICA. Hv |oH\ B. Smith. The following s\'non3-mical List embodies the results of my stiuiies in this famil\- now in [)ress, as a monograph of the family. In Older to assist in the Cabinet arrangement of the species, and to t)ring in a condensed form the synonymy this list is presented somewhat in advance of the monograph. The complete bibliography, as well as the basis of the synonymy will be given olsewhere. A few species now in the Grote List of 1882, will he found missing here. Thev are forms not properly to be credited to the fauna of tem- parate N\jrth America, as I hope to show on some future occasion. Family SPHINGIDi^. Sub family MACROGLOSSINiE. Hemaris Dalm. 1 palpalis Grt. 2 ihetis Bdv. metathctis Butl. 3 rubens Ediv. scnhi Strk. 4 c\ noglossum Edzo. 5 tenuis Gr/. fumosa Strk. r. diffmis i3dv. fiicifonnis ;|; S. & A. u ihra Strk. 7 axi'.'aris G. f^-' R. 7)1 a i-g walls Grt. • groiei Butl. 8 gracilis G. &f R. 9 thysbe Fabr. pc/asgns Cram. cimbicifonnis Steph. e to his Bdv. fiiscicaiidis Wlk. var. ruficaudis Kirhy. uniforviis G. & R. — 90— pyravius Bdv. floridensis G. & R. var. buffaloensis G. ^f R. Lepisesia Grt. JO flavofasciata Bariist. 1 1 ulalume Strk. 1 2 euterpe Ediv. 1 3 phaeton G. &■" R. errata Bdv. 14 clarkia^ BJv. vic/oruE Grt. 1 5 circa? Khv. 1 6 gaurai ^S". &f A. var. juanita S/rk. Sub-family CHCEROCAMPINiE. ^llopos Hbn. 17 tad us Cram. titan Cram. annulosuin Swains. baltcata Kirtl. 18 tantalus Z/;/?;. fripiiiictata Goeze. ZDiiata Dru. /liv'w;/ Linn. Enyo Hbn. 18 lugubris Linn. fegeus Cram. earner tiis Cram. luctiiosus Bdv. Amphion Hbn. 20 nessus Cram. Thyreus Swains. 2 I abbotii Swains. Deidamia Clem. 22 inscriptum Harr. Deilephila Ochs. 23 gallii var. chamainerii Harr. —91— epilohii Harr. intermedia Kirb}'. catiadensis Gn. 24 lineata Fabr. daucus Cram, oxybaphi Clem. Choerocampa Dup. 25 tersa Linn. Argeus Hbn. 26 labrusca; Linn. clot ho Fabr. Pachylia Wlk. 27 ficus Linn. crameri Menet. lyncea Clem. veneziielensis Schauf. Philampelus Harr. 28 liniiei G. & R. vi/is X Cram. fdsciatus \ Grt. 29 vitis Lmn. JussieucB Hbn. fasciatus Sulz. 30 pandorus Hbfi. satellitia \ Harr. ampelophaga Bdw 3 1 achemon Dru. crantor Cram. Ampelophaga Brem. & Gray. 32 chcjenlus Cram. clorinda Martyn. azalece S. & A. T,7, myron Cram. pampinatrix S. & A. var. cnotus Hbn. 34 versicolor Harr. Sub-family SPHINGIN^E Amphonyx Foe). 35 antceus Dru. -92 — jairophcB Fabr. hydaspes Cram. niedor Cram. Dilophonota Burm. 36 ello Linn. ^j obscura Fabr. stheno Hbn. rhccbiis Bdv. 38 merianaj Grt. oniphalccE Bdv. 39 edwardsii Butl. 40 melancholica Grt. 4 1 f'esta Ediv. Cautethia Grt 42 grotei Edw. noctuiformis | HS. Protoparce Burm. 43 celeus Burm. quinqiiemaculata Haw. Carolina \ Don. 44 Carolina Linn. 45 rustica Fabr. chionanthi S. & A. 46 cingulata Fabr. afinis Goetze. convolvuli \ Dru. pungens Eschsch. drurcei Don. var. decolorata Edw. Sphinx Linn. 47 kalmioi ^. ^ A. 48 drupiferarum 6". n veins : 10 separate, 4 and 5 stemmed ; hind wings 8 veins : 3, 4 and 5 stemmed ; tongue strong ; anteiiiiffi of (^ simple ; ocelli present ; labial palpi erect, long ; maxillai-y palpi present. Type : ferielta, Hulst. T. feriella, n. sp. Expands 20 nun. Palpi gray, white beneath ; head and thorax dark gray with a liluish shade ; abdomen fuscous gray, interlined with light gray ; fore wings dark gray with a bluish shade ; lines whitish, the inner nearly at middle, angulate. the outer waved and dentate, subparallel with outer margin ; on inner margin just beyond basal line is a rather large broken white spot ; discal spot faint with outer edge whitish ; a marginal line of black points ; hind wings fuscous, a black marginal line. —Texas. Tallula, n. gen. Fore wings 11 veins : 10 separate, 4 and 5 separate ; hind wings 8 veins: 3, 4 and 5 stemmed ; maxillary palpi present ; labial palpi erect, recurved ; tongue strong; antenna; of (^ simple pubescent ; ocelli present. Type : alrifascialis^ Hulst. Tehama, n. gen. Fore wings 11 veins : 2 and 3 separate, 4 and 5 stemmed ; hind wings 7 veins : 3 and 5 separate, 2 far from angle, 7 and 8 stemmed ; tongue strong ; labial palpi drooping, long ; maxillary palpi wanting ; antenna.* of (^ simple. Type ; bonijatclla, Hulst. Mona, n. gen. Fore wings II veins: 4 and 5 separate at a point, lO separate ; hind wings 7 veins ; 2 near angle, 3 and 5 stemmed, 7 and 8 appearing stemmed ; labial palpi erect, recurved, 3rd member short ; maxillary palpi wanting ; antennte of (^ simple, slightly bent above base ; ocelli present ; tongue strong. Type : olbiella, Hulst. — ii6— M . olbiella, n. sp. Expands 21 mm. Palpi fuscous gray ; head ochreous ; abdomen light ochreous ; thorax reddi>h ochreous ; fore wings along co.^ta to subcostal vein whi;e, with a few scattered black scales, this band reaching to outer cross-hne ; the ie~t of the wing reddish brown, varying in flifi'erent specimens thioiigh reddish ochrtous to ochreous, all with a few >cattered b!ack scales ; basal line indeterminate or indi-tinct, outer line very close to nargin and parallel with it, broad, grayish, more or less edged in- waidly with blackisli scales and outwardly with blackish nariow marginal space ; hind v\ings |)el'u-id fuscous, margin becoming very dark. — Ccjjorailo. Altoona, n. gen. Fore wings II veins : 4 arid 5 stemmed, lo -eparate ; hind wings 7 veins : 2 at angle, 3 and 5 stemmed ; tongue wanting ; labial palpi horizontal ; maxillary palp' present ; aiUennK of q^ bent over base with tult of scales in Ijend. Type : opacc'/a, Hubt. Welaka, n g.-n. Fore wings II veins: 10 separate, 4 and 5 separate; hii d \\'iiigs 7 veins : 2 at angle, 3 and 5 long stemmed, 7 and 8 stemmed ; tongue wanting, labial palpi long, ascending, end member hoiizo ital, 2nd and 3r(l members long ; ma.xiilary palpi long; antennie of rj simple. Type: j/niUi/iiLel.'a, Hnlst. Cayuga, n. gen. Fore wings II veins : 3 and 5 separate ; hind wings 7 veins ; 2 at angle, 3 and 5 stemmed ; antenna; of g^ witli mend^ers liroad, tootlied, pubescent, bent above base with tuft of scales in bend ; laMal palpi loig, hoi izont'il, end luember drooping; ocelli present ; tongue wanting. Type : i^i ntinati;,7a, Hulst. Petaluma, n. gen. Fore wings 10 veins : 8, 9 and 10 stemmed, 3 and 5 stemined ; hind wings 7 veins ; 2 at angle, 3 and 5 stemmed ; tongue wanting ; clypeus with a cone shaped tubercle ; labial |)alpi drooping ; maxillary palpi iiivi.-ible ; ocelli present ; antenna; of rj' siinple. Tyj^e : illibtlla, Hulst. Uinta, n. gen. Fore wings 9 venis : 4 and 9 wanting, 3 and 5 separate ; huid wings 7 veins ; 3 and 5 separate, 2 far from angle, 7 and 8 separate to base ; labial palpi horizontal, heavy, long ; maxillary palpi strong, heavily scaled on end; antennre of g bent above ba-c, pubescent ; ocelli present ; tongue wanting ; legs shorter and more heavy than usual. Type : oreadella, Hulst. U. oreadella, n. sp. Palpi fuscous gray, as is also the head ; thorax blackish gray ; abdomen blackish gray, becoming fuscous and yellowish anally, each segment except basal edged nar- rowly with gray ; fore wings dark fuscous, darker at base ; basal line not evident ; outer line broad, blackish, a marginal broad line also blackish ; at base of center of middle field a lengthened black point; hind wings fuscous, shining, margin darker; beneath even fuscous on all wings, margins darker. — Colorado. Acrobasis albocapitella, n. sp. Expands 14 mm. Palpi, head and thorax snow white ; abdomen white, slightly stained with fuscous ; fore wings white at base, with a faint reddish fuscous stain along costa and inner margin ; basal line dark brown, rather indistinct ; wings beyond — 117— f\isc()u> t,M-ay, except aloiii,' liasal line on inner maririn, whicli is whitish ; outer Inie ^;ray, indistinct, rounded in middle outwardly, edged within with dark brown : veins slightly darker than ground color ; hind wings pellucid fuscous, darker outwardly.— Canada. Dasypyga carbonella, n. s\>. Expands 15 mm. Palpi, head, thorax and Ibrewings gray, heavily overlaid with black, givint; a uniform dull black color, the lines very faintly or not at all sug- gested , abdomen dark fuscous, interlined with lighter ; hind wings pellucid fuscous, vein^ aiui outi-r -pace darkest. - 'Texa^. Lipographis decimerella, n. sp. Expands 26 mm. Pal])i, collar and thorax gray, stained with fuscous ; head somewhat whiter: abdomen light ochreous gray, almo-t yellowish at middle; fore wings lead gray, broadly whitish along costa nearly to apex, whitish with a reddish shade along inner margin ; fringes whitish ; hind wings dark fuscous, fringes lighter. There is considerable variation fii tlie different specimens, some having generally a reddish tone, others being more inclined to clear gray.— Texas. Lipographis niviella, n. ^p. Expands 29 mm. Palpi, head ai d thorax pure snowy white, with a slight sprink- ling of black scales ; abdomen yellowish white ; fore wings pure snowy white, more or less marked with black : costa white ; posteriorly the wing is finely marked with black on vems, and on posterior half stained with fuscous ; basal line narrow, white, shaded inwardly along inner margin with large black spot ; outwardly with narrow line of black ; outer line white, toothed within between the veins, edged with a line of black points outwardly along margin ; apex with two black points on either side the outer line ; hind wings dirty whitish, yellowish at apex and along anterior margin. — Coloradii. Anoristia olivella, n. sp. Expands 24 mm. Palpi whitish ; head, thorax, abdomen and fore wings light fuscous gray, scatteringly and coarsely dusted with a few black scales, the whole wa^hed with a light olive shading ; the black scales are a little more plentiful at the base, along innei- margin, and at apex ; basal line whitish, merely a break in the slight dusting of black ; outer line formed as the basal, but rendered distinct by a heavier shading of the dusting ot black within, oblique, subparallel with outer margin, with one inner angulation one third Ij-om costa; hind wings olive whitish. — The Needles, California. Nephopteryx filiolella, n. sp. Expands 16 to 18 mm. Palpi reddish brown ; head and thorax brown ; abdomen brown with an ochreous shading; fore wings brown, ochensh gray along costa, chest- nut red on posterior median space and 'outer margin ; basal line blackish, indistinct ; outer line dark gray, broad, indistinct, edged on both sides with blackish ; hind wings fuscous, outer margin and veins much datker. — Texas. Honora glaucatella, n. sp. Expands 22 mm. Palpi, head and thorax light gray, stained with fuscous ; ab- domen ochreous gray ; fore wings white along costal half and base, stained with fuscous on posterior half of middle and outer fields ; basal line rounded, indistinct, edged outwardly with black, broad and heavy in middle, obsolete at both ends ; discal spot black, prominent ; outer line oblique, wavy, edged both sides with dark — ii8— fuscous, outwardly becoming black at costa ; hind wings faded white, pellucid, yel- lowish outwardly. — Texas. Honora obsipella, n. sp Expands 23 mm. Palpi h'ght gray beneath, mouse gray above and at tip; thorax dark brown ; abdomen reddish brown ; fore wings reddish brown at base, more marked just within basal line ; basal line well out, dentate, distinct ; middle field reddish brown, discal spot blackish, faint, elongate horizontal ; outer line strongly twice dentate inwardly ; outer field reddish brown, except marginal band of gray ; hind wings dark smoky fuscous. — Texas. Honora fuscatella, n. sp. Expands 15 mm. Palpi, antenna; and thorax dark gray fuscous; head and ab- domen lighter, the latter ringed with very light fuscous ; fore wings light gray, almost entirely overlaid with gray fuscous, the light gray showing in the cross-lines and sparingly over the surface ; basal line near the middle of the wing, twice waved, dentate ; the outer line lectangulai- below costa, then rounded, angular again near inner margin ; hind wings pellucid smoky fuscous-— Texas. Altoona ardiferella, n. sp. Expands 18 mm. Palpi and head mouse gray with scattered black scales; thorax gray ; abdomen gray with an ochreous tint ; fore wings with a broad gray stripe along costa ; base and along inner margin to middle of vi'ing reddish ocher ; base with a black dash ; outer and center portion of middle field fuscous gray ; outer field gray above, fuscous below ; basal line white, straight, oblique, with black on costal half outwardly, on inner half inwardly ; outer line near margin lined heavily with black on both sides near costa, and all the way inwardly ; a marginal line of black points more pronounced near apex ; hind wings yellowish fuscous.— Texas. Zophodia longipennella, n. sp. Expands 25 mm. Palpi dark smoky gray ; head and thorax same color ; ab- domen light clouded gray; fore wings with a broad white stripe along costa, posteriorly striated with fuscous gray, gradually merging into the fuscous gray of the rest of the wing ; basal line hardly discernible ; outer line faint, waved or scalloped, edged with- in with blackish ; hind wings pellucid, stained whitish. — Texas. Hardly a typical Zophodia as the palpi are long and the wings \-er}- narrow and extended. Homceosoma candidella, n. sp. Expands 20 mm. Palpi and front fuscous ; summit white ; thorax light fuscous: abdomen light ocher ; fore wings pure chalk white, sparingly dusted with black and fuscous scales ; costa at base very narrowly black ; basal line indeterminate save by 3 black points ; discal spots black, horizontal oval ; outer line faintly evidenced by a slight increase of black dusting ; hind wings dark fuscous.— Arizona. Bandera cupidinella, n. sp. Expands 18 mm. Palpi dark gray : head fuscous ; thoiax ocher fuscous ; ab- domen ocher ; fore wings, ground color buff ocher, with 3 white stripes, the first sub- costal from base to apex, the second starting from first about 1/,, out from base and reaching to middle of outer margin, the third on vein I ; all these are edged with scattered black scales, and all became diffuse and indeterminate outwardly so that the ocher, white, and the black scales are quite mixed in submarginal space ; hind wings fuscous pellucid. — Colorado. — 119 — ON THE GENUS DIATR^EA. By Prof. C. H. Fernald. Amherst, Mass. The genus Diatrcca was established by Guilding in 1S32, for the species wiiich he described as Diatrcca sacchari, but which is without doubt the same species that Fabricius described in 1794, in his Entomo- logia S3-stematica, Vol. Ill, Part 2, p. 238, . under the name Phalana saccharalis. The habits and life-history of this species have been given in an excellent manner in the Report of the Department of Agriculture of the United States for the year 1880. This genus may be characterized as follows : Eyes large, hemispherical and naked. Ocelli wanting. Labial palpi horizontal, nearly as long as the head and thorax. Maxillary palpi tri- angular and about as long as the head. Antennae about two-thirds as long as the costa. Front slightly swollen but varying in the different species. Fore wings about twice as long as wide, the apex right angled and the outer border slightly and regularly rounded. There are twelve veins, of which vein i is simple at the base and ends a little before the anal angle ; vein 2 arises a little beyond the middle of the median vein and ends in the anal angle ; vein 3 arises half way between the origin of vein 2 and the end of the median vein ; vein 4 arises at the end of the median where the cross vein begins ; vein 5 arises very near it from the cross vein. From this point to the origin of vein 6, the cross vein is very fine and turns in towards the base of the wing forming a right angle. Vein 6 arises quite near to the origin of 7 which last arises from the end of the subcostal and ends below the apex. Veins 8 and 9 are from the subcostal a little before the end. Vein 8 ends in the costa quite near the apex and 9 ends in the costa a little l)efore it. Vein 10 runs near to and parallel with the stem of 8 and 9, through the first half of its length. Veins 1 1 and 12 unite nearly above the origin of vein 10, and separate again before reaching the costa. The hind wings have eight veins, three inner border veins and the frenulum is single in the male but divided in the female. The origin of veins 2, 3 and 4 is equally distant, but vein 5 arises from a short stem with 4. Vein 6 arises near the base of the stem of 7 and 8. The cross vein forms an acute angle pointing towards the base of the wing. The basal part of the median vein is pectinated on the upper side. The legs are moderately stout and the vestiture is smooth over the whole surface of the body and wings. Genital hook present in the male. The described North American species may be separated b}' the fol- lowing table : 120 — Fore wings pale ocher with two parallel dusky cross lines . cramhidoides Fore wings without cross lines . . 2 \ Fore wings pale ocher yellow J \ Fore wings seal brown or light brt)wnisli yellow difierentiahs j Fore wings with a terminal row of brown spots saccharalis ^' \ Fore wings with a terminal brown line alleni I ha\e not seen cramhidoides and it may not belong here. It was described by Prof. Grote in the Canadian Fntomologist. Vol. XII, p. 15, under the genus Chilo, but in his New List he put it under the genus Diatra-a, probably because of the absence of the ocelli. Whether it agrees with Dial) tea in venation remains to be determined. Diatraea alleni, n. ?p. Expanse of wingf, 30 mm. Head, palpi above and middle part of the collar, cream white. Outer side of the labial palpi, sides ol the head and thorax and the fore wings, cream-buff. The hinder border of the fore wings as far as vei 1 i, and a few longitudinal streaks beyond the dark brown discal spot are paler and the whoie surface of the wing is evenly and sparsely spiinkled with minute brown scales. There is a fine dark brown terminal line somewhat broken. The frmges are whitish at the base but darker beyond. The hind wings are of a sordid cieam color but lis^htcr oi> the basal part. The dark brown terminal line does not reach the anal angle. F/uiges lighter than the adjacent parts of the wings. Underside ot the fore wings, pa'e fuscous with the brown terminal line reproduced. Described from one male taken in Orono, IMe., by the late INIr. Anson Allen for whom I name this beautiful species. Diatraea differentialis, n. sp. Expanse of wmgs, 43 mm. in the males ; 541061 mm. in the females. Head, palpi, antennae, thorax and fore wings, seal brown. The top of tiie h.^ad and palpi and the hinder edge of the fore wings as far as vein i, are somewhat lighter and the fore wings are sprinkled with dark scales. Theie is a small dark brown discal spnt at the end of the cell and a termmal row of seven .'^pots of the same color, the one at the anal angle being double. The hind wings are pale fuscous, lighter towards the base which is of the same color as the abdomen. Underside of the hind wings like the upper side in color and the underside of the fore wings a little darker. L -gs pale seal l)rown, darker in front. The above description is from the male. The female has the head, palpi, thorax and fore wings of a light brownish yellow color, the latter sprinkled with brownish atoms. The discal and terminal spots are similar to those in the male. The remaining parts of tlie insect are similar to those in the male except that the shades incline to yellowish. The dif- ference of color between the two sexes as shown above is most remarkable. Described from two males and two females taken in Floriiia in April and May. These two species differ from saccharalis in having veins 11 and 12 separate though bent towards each other. Whether this is sufficient to separate them generically I do not yet feel positive. — 121 — Note on Cerathosia tricolor, Sm. By a. R. Grote, A. M. Through the kindness of Mr. Graef I have several specimens of Cerathosia tricolor, describeii by IMr. J. 1^. Smith, on p. 79, Vol. Ill, of this Journal, as a new genus and species of Arctiidce from Texas. The moth is new to me and I do not venture a decided opinion as to its posi- tion, but I quite decidedly dissent from the position assigned it by Mr. Smith. In the first place 1 wish to correct the diagnosis of the neuration. ]Mr. Smith says of hind wings: "5 wanting." Now 5 is distinctly present ; weaker, as in many Noctuidce, but midway between 4 and 6. In the Arctiidce 4 and 5 are near together. On the primaries there is a small accessory cell, from the lower and outer angle of which 6 is given ofl". From the upper outer angle vein 7 proceeds, throwing oft' 8 at a short distance to apex and at a shorter distance 9 to costa. 3, 4 ^'id 5 are not "nearly equidistant," as Mr. Smith says, but 4 and 5 are more than twice as near at base to each other than to 3 On hind wings the cell is closed by a weak vein Having studied the neuration of such Noctuid genera as Spragueia, Grotella and Acopa. the neuration o{ Cera- thosia reminds me of these. The singular insect looks like a Lithosian from the narrow wings, but the ocelli exclude it. It is not allied to Psecadia and the Micros, because the hind wings have two internal veins. The claw on the tibiae and especially the embossed front, the tongue, are all much as we find them in the smaller NoctuidcF allied to Grotella. In the neuration of primaries I wish to correct also Mr. Smith's statement that " 10 springs from upper angle of accessory cell." Vein 10 springs from the middle of the upper margm of accessory cell. If we correct these neurational characters on both wings, we shall incline to consider the moth, notwithstanding its Lithosii-form look, a Noctuid. The clypeus with its lower edge projecting like a rim and its sub-central button-like projection is quite unlike the Arctiidce. It is paralleled by genera in both Noctuidce and Pyralidce which I have not by me to compare. The weak vein 5 of secondaries, equidistant between 4 and 6, springing from the middle of the weak cross vein closing the median cell, will not allow us to refer the moth to the Arctiidce. I am sure that only a casual re- semblance would allow us to place the moth, as Mr. Smith desires us to, next to Utetheisa ( Deiopeia). The "wing form" is not, I think, identical in these two genera. The outer margin of primaries is somewhat oblique in Cerathosia ; the secondaries not so full. While I should rather con- sider the Texan form a Noctuid, I do not certainly refer the insect there from the want of material to compare it with. Yet it belongs more natur- ally to the NoctuidcB from my memory of the structure of many N. Am. genera. In my opinion the comparison of the insect with Ocnogyna on account of the tibial claw is v.-ide of the mark and irrelevant. Cerathosia tricolor, S/iiiih. By John B. Smith. Mr. Grote's remarks on this genus and species are really a matter of surprise to me, and I feel almost as though I owed an apology to all Lepidopterists for treating them seriously. However Mr. Grote does cor- rect me in one particular, and one only, and the acknowledgment of my error there may serve as an excuse to mention the other points. Mr. Grote is correct in stating that vein 5 of secondaries is present. It is however so weak that in the specimens I looked on it as a fold, and in the recent slides it was totally invisible. Later it became visible on the liardening of the balsam, but very faintly, and variable in the specimens and in one scarcely visible. This does nut control or modify the family reference in any way, however, since in the Arctiidte the location is not constant, while in the LithosiidcE with which this genus has great affinities — so great indeed that the presence of ocelli alone excludes it — the venation is ab- solutely paralleled, and vein 5 is present or absent in the same genus. This Mr. Grote should have known, and he should have known also that the location of vein 5 in the Nocfuidce is by no means a constant factor either as to strength or location. Mr. Grote however utterly fails to refer to the important family character found in the costal vein, which in no Noctuid arises from the subcostal, but always from the base, though sometimes forming a con- nection with the subcostal further on. In this genus the origin of the Costal is su plainly from the subcostal, remote from base, that this feature ahjne wuuld locate the insect as to family were it the sole character. The so-called corrections to my description of the venation of primaries are purely verbal and imaginary. Mr. Grote knows, if he has studied venation in any group other than the so often cited genera allied to Spragueia, that the accessory cell, even in the same species, often vanes in size and form, and that in the same insect it may be present on one side and ab- sent on the other. In Callimorpha I have drawn attention to this fact in my paper on the species. The differences pointed out by Mr. Grote are due wholly to individual variation, and though great in sound, are great in no other way. In reference to vein 7 and its derivatives, renewed examination bears out my description fully. I am ready to believe how- ever that Mr. Grote's description is also correct. As to vein 10 again, he says that it arises from the middle of the upper margin while I say upper angle. Another wt^-f^irt/ correction. The specimen from which I described had a short but rather wide accessory cell somewhat diamond shaped, the widest part considerably toward outer margin. The lower — 123— angle of this diamond gives off 6, the tip of cell 7 and derivatives, the upper angle gives off 10. In a specimen in which the angle of the dia- mond is more near the middle, vein 10 while still arising from the upper angle, will also arise from the middle. To make so much of so little illustrates the character of Mr. Grote's entire criticism. Finally Mr. Grote utterly fails to state that in most, if not all the ArcliidiB with accessory cell the neuration is practically the same as in the Nociiddce, except in one important particular, for while in the Noctuidce the dorsal or internal vein is forked at base, in the Arctiidce and LiihosndcB it is simple. Now of these two really family characters, viz: character of dorsal vein of primaries and origin of subcostal of secondaries which make this genus distinctively ^/T//yl " for 1887, and in "Psyche"' for June 1888 there is an approving citation of such an expression. 1 do not at all aj^ree with such ideas. The advantages of individual collections for scientific purposes are immense, and the best work ever done has been done in private collections, even in countries witli manv and large Museum collections. A Museum cannot allow its specimens to be handled as an individual can — it cannot consent to any destruction of any except really duplicate material, even to clear up questions ofscientific value— it must limit the times of work. An individual collection is always at the service of the owner for any purpose : he can mutilate or destroy his specimens ad libitum. He can remount, denude, dissect or do anything else he chooses. Best of all, his collection is always handy. He can go to it at any hour of die dav or night to solve a doubt— to verify an idea or to test a theory. Museum collections in this country too are not so numerous that any arguments made for the London collectors could be given much weight here. I would say therefore, make individual collections by all means and make them as extensive as time and scientific work will permit. Preferablv make a special collection and try and complete that, even at the expense of the other groups. And let me suggest too that in making such a collection the date of capture, the exact locality and some indication as to habit be given. This, — 126 — with a series of early stages and a sufficient number of specimens to show the variation will make an almost ideal collection. Private collections must largely remain the gatherers, therefore — the Public Museum must be the conservator — the keeper and preserver of the life labors of the student, the open record of work done, to be veri- fied by subsequent workers in the same field. A place of resort for students to see the material with which their predecessors worked, and to remember in their greater knowledge, when they contemptuously cast aside the earlier conclusions that but for these incomplete observations their own results would not be so lull, and to coi.s dcr too that a future generation will be apt to treat the present much as the present now treats t!ie past. This does not mean at all that a museum should be unlv a record — it should also seek in all wa\s to accummulate material and to become a known and influential element in the progress of Science. In his able address to the Ent. Soc. of London. Dr. .''harp speaks of die aims of public collections and emphasizes the fact of their being a record. He prominently urges the fact that collections innv made are im- portant and should be urged, as civilization, especially in Islands is en- tirely changing the faunal condition, so that in a few years no trace of the peculiarities now existing will be discoverable. No collector in the vicinity of rapidly growing American cities can fail to be struck by Dr. Sharp's arguments. He says that a single pair of goats on an Island previously un- inhabited by them can change the entire fauna. I know that a herd of cows introduced into my favorite collecting ground near Brooklyn, pro- duced this effect in a single year, and within my experience the fauna of the Western end of Long Island has undergone a complete change. The observations of Dr. Hamilton on this subject recorded some vears smce in the Canadian Entomologist, strikingly illustrate the same subject. The importance to a museum of acquiring intlividual collections thus exemplified, local C(^llectors, even with but small collections, should see to their deposit in a Museum to preserve in that way a record of the fauna at a definite period. The curator of such an institution should be a working systematist, and he will find his hands full in keeping his charge abreast of the tmies. He should also be a specialist, able by his scientific work to inspire con- fidence and attract material — in his own specialty at least, to render the collection in his charge, pre-eminent — not however to the neglect of branches outside of his specialty. There are several Institutions, but only two which seem to me to fill all of the requisitions to invite deposit of collections, viz : the Museum of — 127— Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, and the National Museum at Wash- ington, In many Stales there are colleges and other institutions having col- lections, but in the rarest instances have they a competent person in charge, and the usual fate of the collection, after the retirement of the pei-son making it, is dust ami decay. I know several such collections. The collection in Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y., is a shining exception. Here Prof. Comstock is, by earnest and persistent labor gelling together a good collection, deter nined by >pecialisls in each order. Prof. Comstock has original ideas on Museums, and his block s\stem for cabinet boxes, and the bent neck vials have been ilc^cribed and figured by him. Whether Prof Comstock's successor will appreciate and carry out his work is of course another question. The Boston Society of Natural Histt)ry has a general colleciion of considerable extent, but no special curator of insects. Mr. Henshaw, the present curaior of invertebrate Zoology, is fortunately an Entomo- logist, and able to appreciate the valuable material now in the Museum. The American Museum of Natural History has allowed onet\pical collection to go to ruin in the most unwarrantable manner, and has al- lowed individuals to handle the material whose knowledge of the subject was such that they took off the labels on the few still existent types of Robinson's Tortricidae, and thus destioyed the value of the imperfect remnants of what was once a valuable collection of Lepidopiera. The treatment of other orders and collections was not more enlightened. They have just ajipointed a curator at a very small salarv and have not as yet shown any disposition to give him any facilities for w'ork. In Missouri, 60 drawers prepared for the State by Prof. Riley con- taining a large lot of Biological material of value was allowed to go to ruin by simple neglect. The American Entomological Society has a large collection of Insects owned by it, or on deposit, but no salaried officer to take care of it. So much intelligent care has however been accorded the collection that there has been little loss. In Coleoptera, the Wilt collection has given them a large material in addition to the large lot of species previously on hand. In Lepidoptera there is a large amount of material well determined by Grote and others, typical of many of the older described species. There are also many of the types of Clemens' Micros. In Hymenoptera the Cresson collection is on deposit, and they have also a very fair lot of species in some other orders. Altogether there is a fair nucleus for a collection, needing only a competent salaried curator to develop and increase it. The insects are in large cabinet drawers, cork-lined. Of the two Public Institutions first above mentioned, the Cambridge l\[useum is very much the older and more extensive, an(] in the choice of the curator of Entomology, has been singularly fortunate, not only in the character and ability of the gentleman placed in charge, but also in the fact that he has been able to spend so man\' aciive \eais in developing and perfecting his plans fur a comprehensive collection. Dr. Hagen has well appreciated the responsibilities of a Museum and its aims, and has labored to accumulate and preserve, allowing his personality to interfere singularly little with his duties to the Museum. A brief statement of what American material the Museum has and the manner of its preservation may be interesting. The Collections are all in cabinet boxes of uniform size, 16x19 inches, glass covered, and painted inwardly with white zinc paint. Dr. Hagen docs not approve of cork, and the insects are pinned directly into the bottom made of Linden, I believe, or some oiher sc>ft white wood. The frame of the box is of Poplar, and the cover fits into the frame by inems of a tongue and groiwe, making a very tight joint. The cabinets are uniform in size and each contains 2 sections of 9 drawers each. The drawers are interchangeable, ami the cabinets close with a door to each section. Tight boxes and care are Dr. Hagen's reliances to preserve from damage by Museum pests, and they are sufficient where the material is not in constant use. Among the Museum's treasures is the Leconte collection of Coleop- tera, and its place here illustrates one of the uses of a Museum — it per- petuates the collection, and allows access to it by students desirous of following in the footsteps of this illustrious leader. I have' not seen the collection since its installation in the Museum, but believe it is left in its original boxes, they being placed in the Museum boxes. The other col- lection ofColeoptera is good ; but the knowledge that one day the Leconte collection would rank aniong its treasures has prevented any special at- tention to this order. One of the advantages of a Museum is, gentlemen, it never dies — it can afiford to wait. Next in order — perhaps actually superior in completeness and cer- tainly superior in showing a full seiies of exotics — is the collection of Neuroptera. This is Dr. Hagen's specialty and shows the advantage of having the curator a specialist — it puts it in one group at least on a some- what better footing temporarily — a future curator will probably have some other specialty ; but the advantage gained in the Neuroptera, will never be lost. In the Diptera, a glance at Osten-Sacken's catalogue will show the wealth of the collection. Osten-Sacken deserves the sincere thanks of American students for his liberal and enlightened course of placing — 129 — American types where American sludents could get hold of them — an example by no means generally followed by Americans themselves. In the I.epidopiera, the collection does not rank high. I have been over tlie Heterocera several times and over the Rhopalocera on one oc- casion and it ranks far behind the individual Lepidopterological collec- tions enumerated. It has however many types of Packard's description, mostly in miserable condition, and many species named by Zeller, which, considering that this author wrote considerably on our species, are valuable. The Chambers' types of Tineidce add little perhaps to the value of the collection owing to their poor condition. What the representation is in the other orders, I confess I do not know. It is certainly good, without having any special claims to high rank. In the Myriapods Meinerl's recent paper shows the collection of Chilopoda to be a good one. Dr. Hagen has also devoted much time to the formation of a biolo- gical collection, and has accumulated an extremely interesting and in- structive series, largely however of European species. The Cambridge i\Iuseum is well worthy a visit by any entomologist, and specialists in some orders cannot afford not to visit it. 'I he last branch of my subject and the end of my tax on your pati- ence is a review of the insect collections in the U. S. National Museum, with which I have the honor to be connected as assistant curator. By the courtesy of Prof Riley the Honorary Curator, I have per- mission to tell all that I know myself; as I have learned in the three years that I have worked in it to love and know the collection as though it were my own I may be pardoned if I speak somewhat enthusiastically of this collection and its future. I will first give an account of how our collection is kept, and this subject was a matter of very full discussion between Prof Riley and my- self before a final standard was agreed upon. Prof. Riley had care- fully studied the methods in use in museums here and abroad, and the standards adopted, seemed to him most practical and safe. Two styles were finally adopted as most convenient and best adapt- ed for the varying wants of various orders. The one is a small, 8x13 inches wooden box 2^l.-,_ inches deep, calcu- lated for the temporary reception of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera and Hemiptera; the other a square, glass covered drawer 18x18 outside meas- urement, for Lepidoptera and the other orders containing large insects and as permanent cabinet drawer. Our small boxes are all cork-lined, since all concerned are believers in the convenience and utility of that material, the top and bottom are of cross-grained thin pine stuff, the two thick- nesses calculated to control warping. Inside they are lined with white —ISO- glazed paper and they close over a tongue forming a perfectly tight joint all around. The rows of insects are transverse, and the boxes set on shelves, a neat label in a brass holder indicating the contents. The shelv- ings are closed by glass doors, excluding dust and pests, and }et allow- ing the legends on the labels to be plainly seen, We have seen no reason to find fault with this scheme thus far, it has worked perfectly anti given complete satisfaction. The Museum Cabinet drawers are a modification by Prof Riley o' the British Museum box. They were adopted as combining convenience, durability and saiety in an unusual degree. They consi>t really of two boxes, the inner about y^ inch from the outer and of '/« inch poplar, a tongue from the cover fitting into the interval. Na})lhaline, or any other repellant can be placed in the chamber between tiie inner and outer box without soiling the paper or specimens. The bottoms are cork lined and papered with a white glazed paper. The drawers run in grooves and are inter-changeable. They are m cabinets containing 2 sections of lo drawers each, each section closed by a door. The materials now used are cherry for cabinets and mahogany for drawers, save the bottoms which are of 3-ply pine veneer. It is almost impossible for museum pests to get into these drawers with reasonable care in excluding infested specimens, and Napthaline constantly kept in the space between the boxes retards or controls devel- opment to such an extent as to render damage practically impossible. The most important feature however is the collection itself and few have any idea of the wealth of material awaiting arrangement. The ac- cumulation of material, considering the time of existence, is wonderful. For many years Government expeditions had been collecting mate- rial which wandered into individual collections, or was stored until de- stroyed. The Smithsonian Institution allowed one collection at least to go to ruin and others would have been lost had they not been distributed, A few years ago Prof. Riley induced the authorities to establish a De- partment of Insects. As a nucleus to a national collection, he first de- posited, and afterwards, when provision was made for a salaried officer, donated his entire collection. This collection forms the starting point of the Department of In- sects, and most, if not all of the gentlemen present have seen a detailed statement of its contents, published in most scientific journals at the time. In this collection was contained not only the material accumulated by 25 years of collecting and labor, but also the Burgess collection of Diptera purchased by Prof Riley, and the American collection of Mr. Belfrage also purchased by that gentleman, altogether representing 15328 species in 1 15058 specimens besides nearly 3000 vials of alcoholic material and about 3000 slides of microscopic insects. —131— The Exotics of the Belfrage collection were also purchased by the Department of Agriculture and turned over to the Museum. Since that time there has been acquired the Lepidoptera collection of Mr. O. Meske, in its day one of the best and most complete, my own collections in Co- leoptera antl Lepidoptera, rich in both orders and typical in some fami- lies of each, and the remnants of the Morrison Collection, principally Coleo[)tera. Tl'e sources of income in addition, have been from the continuous breeding and collections of the Entomological Division of the Depart- ment of Agriculture and its agents, the deposit of types described in Museum jtulilications and the ordinary accessions from Government ex- peditions and Smithsonian correspondents. To review special orders — we are most rich in Lepidoptera, both Macn.)S and Micros, without reaching the level of the best individual col- lections in either branch. In the American series however, we have a very large proportion of unique and typical material. In Coleoptera our material is richer than in any individual collection save those especially enumerated in the first part of this paper. In the Diptera we have an exceedingly rich, if somewhat unarranged material. In Syrphidce we have nearly all of Dr. Williston's types and an almost if not quite complete representadon of described species. In Boinbyliidce. we have many of Mr. Coquillett's types, and fully twice as many species as are enumerated in Osten-Sacken's Catalogue. In many other families the collection is proportionately rich. In Hynienoptera we have a very large material, much of it well de- termined. The numerous parasitic forms bred in the Department work have all passed through Mr. Howard's hands and are accurately determ- ined, the Cyiiipids have been arranged by Mr. Ashmead, and in Apidce our material is especially rich. Specialists in all these orders will find much that is new and rare in our collections. In Orthoptera our collections are especially rich and well determ- ined ; Thomas, Riley and Bruner having been over parts or all of it. Mr. Bruner has been of late in connection with Prof. Riley accumuladng material for a monograph of the Acrididcc and this material will also go to the Museum. In Hettiipiera our collection is good, without being remarkable in any particular: it has been w^orked over by Prof. Osborn, and parts of it by Prof. Uhler. In Neuroptera, our collection is undeniably poor, except perhaps in early stages, though probably next in importance to that at Cambridge as the order is so very generally neglected by collectors. — 132— In Arachnida we have the advantage of Dr. Marx's collections and labors. Our material is largely in his hands for determination and will prove an excellent one. In the Scorpiones we have probably all but one or two of Wood's types, and several new species. In Myriapoda our material is very rich in species and specimens. Many of Wood's types are still here, and our older material has been de- termined for us by Prof. L. M. Underwood. The same gentleman on a recent collecting trip through parts of Georgia, added a considerable quantity of material in this sub-class. Mr. C. H. Bollman of Bloomington, Indiana, has within die last }ear or two described many species of Myriopoda, a large proportion ol the types of which are in our collection. In addition to this there is a very large and important class of material which has not yet been mentioned at all —viz : the Biologic material. In this, the collection is incomparably rich, nearly all of the resulis of Prof. Riley's breedings and of the work done in the Department of Agriculture being represented in it. Nowhere else is there such an abundance of adolescent stages in all orders, blown and in alcohol. This vast mass of material is being slowly put into shape. The de- mands upon the time of the Museum officers in routine work, answering inquiries, making determinations t'tc. , are so gieat that progress is not so rapid as desirable. However, the Orthoptera are- completely arranged. The Hemiptera-Heleroptera are also in good shape. In the Lepidoptera about half the work is done. In Coleoptcra a good beginning has been made — in Hymenoptera and Dipiera isolated families only have been put into shape. It is expected however that greater facilities will be provided hereafter in laboratory space which will advance work much more rapidly. A great demand upon time is caused by the necessity of preparing an Exhibition collection for the Public at large. The Museum, being a Government Institution, of course demands a visible result in its Exhibi- tion Halls from all its Departments, and with this aim a large number of boxes, 24 x 30 inches, has been prepared and is being prepared. In all we have nearly 100 such boxes besides a large quantity of other Exhi- bition material. It has been deemed wise in this series to separate the scientific, pract- ical, and merely interesting sides. For the first we have prepared, and very nearly finished, a complete synopsis of the class. A single box defines the sub-classes and orders, each illustrated by specimens or drawings. Following this, in each order all the families and higher divisions are defined on printed labels, and —133 — nearly each family is represented by specimens and drawings of structural peculiarities. 50 of these boxes will constitute this series which will thus be a complete text book of North American Entomology, illustrated by the insects themselves, l^hirty-seven of these boxes are complete, and for the balance the labels are printed, most of the drawings made, and many of the specimens selected. For the practical or economic side we have a series of 8 boxes, illu- strating insect injuries to forest trees. So far as possible all stages of the insects as well as samples of their work are shown. Brief descriptive labels are added in a large propornon of cases. 14 boxes illustrate insects injurious to cultivated plants, and the arrangement is similar, save that here the insect enemies of the injurious species are also given. A printed label directs to the chief article on the subject and gives in brief words the nature of the remedies to be used. 8 boxes are devoted to native and foreign silk producers. In all we have on Exhibition about 3,200 species in about 10,000 specimens, beside architecture of insects. 16 boxes contain Exotic Co- leoptera and Lepidoptera, and 6 contain American Lepidoptera, furnish- ing the third part of the series. In describing the objects and aims of the National Museum collec- tions 1 cannot do better than quote from Prof. Riley's Report as Curator, for 1886. He says: "Collections of objects intelligently brought together, are necessarily educational in influence; but a National collection of In- sects, on acci)uiu of ihe very great number of species, and the exceeding minuteness and fragility of the great majority ol the .species, as compared with oiher animals, must needs have a dual characier, and slmuld con- sist of (1) the cabinet or study collection piii[)Lr, and (2) the exhibit col- lection." 'r benefit. The value of such an exhibit collection depends very much on con- spicuity, and this can best be obtained by the liberal use of diagrams and enlarged drawings, as the majority of the most interesting species and those which concern man are almost microscopical m size. Such an ex- hibit collection will miss its mark and object whenever it exceeds these limits and by too much detail seeks to interest and instruct the Specialist or in other ways trenches on the function of the study collection." Prof. Riley then further shows what a vast source of increase to the IMuseum colleclicm is the Department of Agriculture at which the most interesting material is constantly received, especially in specimens of bio- logic interest, which renders necessary and extremel}- desirable the form- mation of a separate Biological collection. Parallel therefore with the study collection will be the BioK)gic collec- tion illustrating so much as is possible of the life history of each species. The aim will be to create and develope a truly National Collection, in which American Entomologists can take pride, to which they can resort for study at all times and in which they can feel a certain right of property. To accomplish this it will be necessary to obtain the cheerful assist- ance of all American Entomologists. If each collector or student would send duplicate series of types, the collections would soon reach a very high standard: and if students — specialists with large collections would provide for a transfer of their collections to the Museum, when they can not further need them, the results*of their w^ork would be preserved to their fellows and successors, and the aims of the INIuseum would be in a fair way to fulfillment. The INIuseum as a Government Institution is reasonably certain to grow and continue while the Government exists, and no better place it seems to me can be found to deposit collections. Its connection with the Smithsonian Institution, will enable it also to accumulate original collections specially made for it and will give it an importance as a stutly collection second to none in the world. — 133— ON THE GENUS SCHCENOBIUS. By PRt)K. C. H. Fkknald. Amherst, Mass. The genus Sc/i€Cfio5ius was established by Duponchel in 1844, in his Catalogue Methodique, page 312, with the 'Em-openn ^i^/gan/e///is\ S. v., as the t}-pe. For the purpose of re-arranging our North American species, I have made a careful study oji gigatih'i/us, and would characterize the genus as follows : Head of medium size. Eyes lart^c, globose, naked and witlioiit lashes OLelli present ; proboscis short or rudimentary. Front clothed with a vvedge-sha[ied tult of hairs extending; forward. Labial palpi horizontal, as long as the head and thorax ; ma.xillary palpi triangular, as long as the head and re-ting on the labial palpi. An- tenna; ciliated and about two-thirds as long as the eosta in the males, simple and nearly half as long as the costa in the females. Thorax smooth ; abdomen ending in a dense tuft in the females, simple in the males. Claspers somewhat spoon-shaped and clothed with scales on both sides. The genital hook is present with an accessory hook curving up and meeting it at the apex. Legs long and slim, with the inner spurs twice as long as the outer. Wings long and narrow. Foie vvings with twelve veins. Veins 5 and 6 remote from each other and the cross vein between them is tine and forms a right angle pointing towards the base of the wing. Veins 8 and 9, ari-e from a common stem and 8 ends in or very near the apex, while 9 ends in the costa before it. Tlie other veins are separate. The hiiid w-ings have eight veins, 3, 4 and 5 separate at their origin liut near each other ; 7 and 8 from a common stem, and 6 arises near the angle of the cell. The cross line makes an acute angle into the cell. Frenulum smgle in the male, di- ^ide^l in the female. Median vein not pectinate above. The sexes differ so much in some of the species and there is so great variauon that the following table for separating the species is only given provisionally : Hind wings gray with a silky luster sordidellus. Hind wings white or nearly so 2. j Fore wings yellowish fuscous with a broad whitish costal stripe, .albicostellus. ( Fore wings without a whitish costal sti^ipe 3- ^ j Fore wnigs without terminal dots 4- ■'■ J Fore wings with termuial dots 5- Fore wings dark fuscous with a prominent discal dot unipunctellus, {^ . Fore wings bright yellow, usually without a discal dot melinellus, O . f Fore wings pale straw yellow longirostrellus. I Fore wings light ocher yellow with a fuscous shade through the middle '] dispersellus, C . (^ Fore wings fuscous 6. I Fore wing with three dark dots on the surface tripunctellus. j Fore wing with one dark discal dot • 7- j Terminal points present on the hind wings clemensellus. j Terminal points wanting on the hind wings unipunctellus, q . '■) '•] —136— S. sordidellus, Zinck. This species has not hitherto been observed since Zincken first de- scribed it in 1 82 1 in the 4th volume of Germar's Magazine der Ento- raologie, page 247. Neither of Clemens' species could be refeiTed to it nor was it known to Robinson, but I have just received a series from Prof. Forbes, taken in Illinois and two from Mr. Hulst, taken in Florida. There are thirty- one males and two females in the series from Prof. Forbes. Zincken"s description was of a male and he says that "the female probably has pointed wings,'" which proves to be true. I have drawn up the follow- ing description from the series before me. Expanse of wings, 25 to 33 mm. in the males ; 32 to 43 mm. in the temales. Head, palpi, thorax and fore wings, ashy gray, but tinged with ochreous in some specimens. The hind wings and abdomen are of the same color as the fore wings but perhaps a shade lighter and without any ochreous tinge. The fringes are much lighter, especially those of the hind wings. There is terminal row of nine bhick or dark brown spots which rest on the ends of the veins and a similar row of dark spots on the hind wings, all of which are visible on the underside. There is also a dark brown spot resting on the lower outer angle of the cell, and fresh examples show a sprinkling of minute brown scales over the upper surface of the fore wings. In addi- tion to the above markings, some ot the specimens have a spot of the same color on the middle of the base of the wing, one on the upper outer angle of the cell ; two on the subcostal vein rather nearer to each other than to the base or end of the cell ; three on the fold, one near the base, one on the outer third and one rafher within the middle of the fold ; two on vein I, the first on the middle and the second half way between this and the anal angle. There is also an arcuate row of eight spots resting on the veins beyond the end of the cell, the first one restmg on the end of vein 9, on the costa a little before the apex, the last on vein 2, a little beyond its origin where there is another spot. All these spots are of the same color but a little larger than the terminal points. The underside of the wings and body as well as the legs is a shade lighter than above, and the whole surface of the insect has a silky lu-ter. S. unipunctellus, Robs. Ann. Ly. N. H., N. Y., Vo . IX, 1870. Robinson's description is a follows : "Palpi, head and thorax fuscous. Anterior wings uniform dark fuscous with a large prominent black dot at the end of the cell on the middle. Posterior wings and fringes pure white. Abdomen and anal tuft white or very pale fuscous. Expanse, 20 mm. Habitat, Texas. The unilorm dark color and prominent black discal dot readily distinguish this species." Robinson's three types which I now have before me, are females in rather poor condition. I have two females and several males from Florida in somewhat better condition than the types but have nothing to add to the above description. S. tripunctellus, Robs. "Palpi, head and thorax, whitish cinereous, the former white beneath. Anterior wings whitish cinereous, finely powdered with pale fuscous scales. On the told at —137— basal third an improminent dark dot, a similar more prominent dot on the middle at the end of the disk, and a third below it, near internal margin. Terminal dots dark fuscous, minute. Posterior wings, fringes and undersiirface of both pairs glossy white. Abdomen and anal tuft white. Expanse 22 mm. Habitat, Texas." Robinson wrote the above description from three females in very- poor condition. I now have three males from Texas before me with the tyj)es and would add that fresh specimens have terminal dots on all the wings, a dot on the fold near the base, another on the outer third of the median vein and an oblique stripe from near the apex down to the hind margin through the outer dot on the fold, all of a dark brown color. S. melinellus, Clem. This species was described by Clemens in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia for the year i860, p. 205. The following is his brief diagnosis ; "Ochreous yellow. Fore wings with a pale fuscous streak along the middle of the fold, extended nearly to the tip, and a faint oblique line of the same hue, from the tip, not extended to the hind margin. Hind wings pale yellowish white. Abdomen tufted." The type of this species is not in existence and was probably de- stroyed before the Clemens collection was given to the Am. Ent. Soc. Dr. Clemens does not say whether there are terminal dots or not. It may ha\e had them, since in the same paper he described 6". longirostrel- lus which has terminal dots and he did not mention them. His type was undoubtedly a female since he mentiones the abdominal tuft. Robinson in his paper in the Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of N. Y., Vol. IX, 1870, described what he believed to be melinellus as follows : "Palpi, head and thorax ochreous, the palpi pale internally. Anterior wings varying from pale to dark ochreous, shaded more or less prominently with fuscous above the middle from the base to the apex. A dark fuscous dot, sometimes obsolete, at the end of the cell, and a more or less prominent oblique streak from the apex to the middle of the wing. There are no terminal dark dots before the ochreous fringes. Posterior wings and fringes white or pale yellowish white. Expanse, 9 24 to 28 mm. Habitat, Penn., N. Y. This species agrees most nearly of any in my collection with Dr. Clemens' brief description. " I have before me Robinson's two examples from which he wrote the above description and also eight other examples from Mass. and London, Ontario. Robinson lays stress on the absence of terminal points in this species, but in some of the specimens before me there are faint indications of terminal points, and in fact this species grades so imperceptably into dispersellus that I am not able to separate them. It is impossible to say which of these forms Clemens made his description -138- from, but I believe it to have been from one of them. I am therefore disposed to regard melinellus and disperselliis as varieties of the same species. S. dispersellus, Robs. I have forty-seven females including the types, and three males of this type before me. I was disposed to think at first that 1 had several species but now conclude that they all belong to one very variable species. The following description will cover the varieties before me. Expanse of wings, 22 to 26 mm. in the males ; 25 to 38 mm. in the females. Head, palpi, thorax and lorewings testaceous in some specmiens and tawny in others, more or less sprinkled with minute fuscDUS scales in some. A dark brown discal dot rests on the lower angle of the cell and there is a terminal row of the same color scarcely visible in some of the specimens. An oblique stripe of dark brown ex- tends from near the apex down to or in the direction of a dot on the outer thiid of the fold. A more or less prominent dark brown stripe extends from the base of the wing along the cell to the outer margin near the apex. This marking has every degree of prominence, from a heavy stripe to complete obliteration. In some specimens the costal portion of the wing above this stripe is yellowish white, much lighter than the rest of the wing. This variety may be called albicostelhis. There is another dark brown dot resting on the fold below the middle of the cell. The hind wings are white, somewhat sordid or yellowish in some of the speci- mens and there is a row of dark points quite prominent jn some, scarcely visible in others and entirely wanting in others. The abdomen and anal tuft are white, more or less sordid. The underside of the hind wings is of the same color as above, and the fore wings are nearly of the same color and showing to some extent the markings of the upperside. The males have the fore wings somewdiat suffused with fuscous and tiie terminal points are more pronounced on both the fore and hind wings. The synonomy will be as follows: Schcenobius melinellus. Chilo melinellus, Clem. Proc. Phil. Ac. Sc. (1S60). SchcEuobiiis meliiiellits, Robs. Lye. N. H. of N. Y. (1870). var. dispersellus. Sc/twHobius dispersellus, Robs. Lye. N. H. of N. Y. (1870). var. albicostellus. Fern. S. clemensellus, Robs. Robinson gave this name to the species called Chilo aquilellus by Clemens, because the latter name was pre-occupied, and states that he has recognized the insect and therefore appends the original description which is as follows : " Dark fuscous. Fore wings with an ochreous streak along the sub-median nervure and its nervules, and those beneath likewise touched with the same hue. Hind wings yellowish fuscous." I have before me, belonging to the collection of the Am. Ent. Soc. , a specimen on a short pin with a small label marked Chilo n. sp. .?, in Dr. Clemens' hand-writing: and also a lartj-e label in Robinson's hand- —139— writing marked Schcenobtus ckmenscUiis Rob. It is evident that Robin- son founii this specimen and considered it the Clemens type after he luul pubHshed his paper. 1 have four male examples before me which liavc an expanse of wings 22 to 24 mm. The head, palj)i, thorax and fore wings are of the color of burnt umber, lighter along the middle of the thorax and hinder part of the fore wings. There is a minute dark brown point at the lower outer angle of the cell and the terminal points are of the same color. The surface of the wing is s])rinkled with umber colored atoms and there is an obscure oblique dark stripe from near the apex not reaching across the wing. The hind wings are yellowish white with minute terminal dark dots in two of the specimens but wanting in the type, underside of the wing lighter than above. While I am disposed to believe with Robinson that this is the type of Clemens, I should not be greatly surprised if it eventually proved to be oiily an extreme variety of S. longirostreUiis, Clem. S. longirostrellus, Clem. I have eleven males and three females of this species before me, in- cluding the types of Clemens and the material that Robinson had when he made his studies on this species. I also have four specimens of the European S. forficellus, to which it is closely related. Expanse of wings, 22 to 24 mm. in the males ; 25 to 27 mm. in the females. Head, palpi and thorax straw yellow, tinged more or less with fuscous on the side. Fore wings in the temale straw yellow, sparsely sprinkled with fuscous dots in one specimen, with a terminal row of brown dots, a similarly colored one on the lower an:.^le ot the cell, one on the outer third of the fold and another on the fold near the middle of the wing. An oblique brown stripe extends from the apex down to the outer spot on the fold. Fore wings in the male, yellowish white, more or less sparsely sprinkled with fuscous atoms. The space above the subcostal vein from the base to the outer fourth of the costa is more or less tinged with fuscous. There are three brown dots on the fold : one near the base, the second a little within the middle, and the third on the outer third of the fold. A similar dot rests on the lower angle of the cell al the outer end of the median vein and in some specmiens there is one on the upper angle. A minute brown dot rests on the end of veins i to 9. An oblique stripe of the same color extends from the apex to the dot on the outer third of the fold and there is sometimes a curved shade band between this and the outer margin. An oblique line nearly parallel to the apical stripe extends from the dot near the middle of the fold up and out to near the middle of the cell where it forms an acute angle and then extends obliquely up and in till it is finally lost in the costal shade. Hind wings cream white and without markings in the females but with a terminal row of dark points in the males and in one specimen there are two faint, parallel fuscous bands from the costa just within the apex, which do not reach beyond vein 2. Underside of the wings pale fuscous with the terminal points repeated. I can find no constant differences between this species and the European yb;y?c^///«, in the material before me, and believe they will yet prove to be identical. Perstrialis, Hiib. = ?nacri?teUus, Zell. , and opalescalis, Hulst, do not belong to this genus. — 140 — A GENERIC SYNOPSIS OF THE CICADIDiE. By Wm. H. Ashmead. Family I. CICADID/E. Head usually short and broad, somewhat triangular, the front convex. Ocelli 3 on the disk of the vertex. Thorax large, broad. Scutelluni moderate. Wings long, vitreous or opaque, with sixteen cells or areas, or with numerous irregular net-like meshes. Tegulre present. Anterior coxae oblong, prismatic, inserted in the anterior angle of the prostethium ; middle and posterior coxre shorter, sub-conic, sub-contigu- ous, not reaching the sternum. Anterior femora thickened, toothed beneath. Tiliia? cylindric. Tarsi two or three jointed ; no pulvilli between the claws. Males with a pair of stridulating organs at the base of the abdomen, called drums or tympana; consisting of cavities, more or less completely covered with parchment-like lids, termed the opercules. Following Amyot et Serville, the family may be divided into three subfamilies of nearly equal value as follows : TABLE OF SUBFAMILIES. Fore wings having but sixteen cells or areas. Elytra entirely membranous Subfamily I. CICADINiE. Elytra more or less coriaceous or opaque Subfamily II. TOSENIN^E. Fore wings having their posterior half composed of a net-work of hexagonal meshes, numerous and irregular Subfamily III. POLYNEURINiE. Of these subfamilies, the last two are apparently strictly tropical forms, neither being represented in the European or North American faunas. Subfamily I. CICADIN.®. This group is an extensive one and species have been described in it from all parts of the world. Many species have already been de- scribed from our fauna, and others yet remain undescribed. The following table compiled principally from the writings of Amyot et Serville, Fieber, Stal, and Uhler, comprises the genera found in Europe and North America, and will, it is hoped, enable the student to readily recognize them. TABLE OF GENERA. Prothorax not dilated at sides 2. Prothorax dilated at sides. Lateral dilation of the prothorax angulated. Ulnar veins contiguous at base ; interior ulnar area narrowed posteriorly G. I. Zammara, A. et S. Ulnar veins somewhat distant at base ; the lateral margins of the interior ulnar areas parallel G. 2. OdopcEa, Strel, Lateral dilations of the prolhurax rounded. Meta.-.ier,.uu. eL-\auil. —141 — Mesosternum short, transversely broadened, lozenye-slinped ; roitruni ex- tending to the middle of the mesosternum ; anterior femora with 3 teeth beneath ti. 3- Triglena, Ficber. Mesosternum broadly triany;ular, convex with a short and feeble apical groove ; rostrum extending to first ventral segment ; anterior femora with 2 teeth beneath G. 4. Tettigia, Kolhir. Meta>tei num not elevated. Head broad, short ; body hairy G. 5. Tettigades, A. et S. 2 Mesothorax not semilunately hollowed out posteriorly 3- Mesothorax semilunately hollowed out posteriorly. Metasternum transversely elevated, the elevated part longitudinally impressed, slightly produced anteriorly, the same truncate or sinuate G. 6. Fidicina, A. et S. 3 Pronotum a parallelogram "• Pronotum trap.^zoidal, Mesosternum flattened, sometimes slightly transversely convex behind without a groove 4- Mesosternum convex with a groove. Costal and radial veins toward apex contiguous, apical appendage of wings moderate. Ocelli remote from base of head ; drums all uncovered G. 7. Tibicens, Latreille. 4 Clypeus at apex truncate or subsinuately truncate 5- Clypeus at apex acuminate. Lateral margins ol thorax distinct : last ventral segment in O not or only slightly emarginate ni the middle G, 8. Tympanoterpes, Sttel. Lateral margins of thorax not distinct. Transverse vein closing the second apical cell not or scarcely oblique; costal margin of wing before the middle nearly straight or very slightly rounded. Front somewhat prominent G, 9. Proarno, St;T;l. 5 Tympanum present, Anteri-or femora with 2 large teeth and a minute one at the extremity ; rostram extends only to the extremity ot the mesosternum ; q' opercules moderately large, hiding the mesosternum G, 10. Cicada, Linn. Anterior femora with 3 teeth beneath ; rostrum extends only to the middle of the mesosternum ; rf opercules semioval or broadly triangular G. II. Cicadatra, A.etS. Tympanum wanting or rudimentary. Elytra with S apical cells G, 12, Melampsalta, Kollar. Elytra with 6 apical cells. Ulnar veins separate at base G. 13. Platypedia, Uhler. Ulnar veins united at base G. 14. Carinata, A. et S. Elytra with 5 apical cells G. 15. Calyria, Stael. Elytra with 4 apical cells G. 16. Prunasis, Stael. 6 Margins of pronotum joined to the sides in a prominent lobe. Anterior femora with 3 teeth beneath, rj^ opercules abortive G. 17. Cicadetta, A. et S. 7 Head small, forming a very acute angle, much narrower than the prothorax, the median lobe prolonged into a long point in front of the lateral lobes, rf oper- cules small, not entirely covering the sonorous cavities G. 18. Cephaloxys, Signoret. 142— The Determination of Hesperidas. By Eugene jM. Aaron. It is with much pleasure that I have read the first instalment of i\Ir. f. R Smith's novel ami very instructive address to the Entom. Club of the A. A. A. S. The younger students, as well as some of us who have been in the tield for some years, owe Mr. Smith a vote of thanks for the address, showing, as it does so clearly, where we can find willing specialists with capable collections to whom we can refer our unde- termined specimens. On page 109 Mr. Smith speaks as follows of my own collection : '' In the hmlly //espen'dcp of the Rhopalocera, the collection of Mr. Eugene M. Aaron of Philadelphia is excellent. Mr. Aaron has spent much time antl money to complete his collection in this family : but owing to his numerous business engagements cannot unfortunately devote much time to his collection at present, and cannot do much for seekers 0/' in/ori?ia/iun in this faniih'." The italics are mine ; and it is of the accuracy of the statement contained in this last clause of which 1 wish to write. When it was penned by W\. Smith it was an exact statement of the facts of the case as they have existed for the past three years. Fortunately for my peace of mind, for my collections have been at all times in my thoughts, I have been able to make business arrangements during the past summ.M- which will give me for the six months to come, a considerable amount of time to give to tlie study of the HesperiJw and to ,the e.yam- ination and determination of material from collectors of this puzzling familv. I have explained elsewhere (Papilio, Vol. IV, p. 171) the methods adopted by me in 1880 for the determination of all Hespcrida;, and in fact all Rhopalocera from America north of the Isthmus of Panama. These methods are still pursued l)y me, and at this writing, my Ed- wards" and Kirby's Catalogues are complete so far as it is possible to make them from the Zoological Records and from the unequaled libraries of the American Entomological Society and The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. In print or in ]\IS. copy I have the original description of every species of the Rhopalocera in America north of Mexico, and in the HcsperidLe north of the Isthmus. For ready refer- ence I have had the leading writings of Hiibner, (je}er, Felder, La Sagra, Boisduval, Herrick-Schaffer, Poey, Speyer, Mabille, Oberthiir, Staudinger, et al., carefully translated into English and these INISS. brought together in a bound form and copiously indexed. All corre- —143— spondence from specialists and MS. information relative to habits and geographical distribution arc also gathered together in this manner and indexed. Many of the more obscure species have the labels of determination affixed by such students or collectors as Edwards, Slrecker, Morrison, et al. , and in the HesperidiB a majority of the species are represented by series of from 12 to 50 or more specimens. In this family only the genus Pamphila has more than one absentee in the collection. Begin- ningwith the genus Amblysciries, as arranged in Edward's Catalogue of 1884, Eudamus Electra, Lintn., and Erycides Sanquinea, Scud., are the only missing species. In the, four genera preceeding Pamphila all the sj)ecies are represented. In the Lyccenidce and Eiyanidce, catalogued as above, the collection is nearly as full ; the latter family is complete. These data are given to illustrate the working condition and my literary material. If anything in the above shall encourage any collector with material, the determination of which is not satisfactory to him, to entrust me therewith for the purp)oses of identification and study I shall be amply repaid by the benefits of the latter and shall do my best to see that he is promptly benefited by the former. Book Notice. "Insect Life, Vol. I, No. i. U. S. Dept. of Entomology. Periodical Bulletin, July, i888. Devoted to the econon'iy and life habits of Insects, especially in their relations to Agriculture, and edited by the Entomologist and his Assistants, with tliL- sanction of the Commissioner of Agriculture. Washington, D. C." l"he above pretty fully ex})lains the prospectus of a new Journal devoted to Entomology and issued by the Entomological Department at Washington. Under the personal supervision of Dr. Riley it cannot fail to be well edited ; and giving more or less the details of the De- partment experiments and researches, it cannot fail to be of great and lasting value. ^^'e have only one exception to note. Having the name "Insect Life" given it, an impression might be given that it is to be a scientific Journal in the ordinary sense of the term, and not what it professes and aims to be a "periodical Bulletin"; this im})ression is strengthened by the fact that in the very first number there are given descriptions of new species of insects w'hose types are entirely out of the possession of the —144— Government and of no economic importance; moreover it has become a rule almost universally recognized and regarded that no original de- scription should be made save in a standard scientific publication, and the existence of these descriptions at once seems to carry "Insect Life' beyond its prospectus and professed aims. At the same time we would be glad if this could be carried out and made a continuance and in this way be the beginning of a new departure on the part of our Government, that thus our country might become an aid much more than she has been to systematic Science. Under those at present connected with the Division of Entomology the new Journal would be of permanent S3-stematic, as it cannot fail to be of permanent and great economic value. The numbers would in our opinion be in better shape if the custom of the close cutting of margins prevalent in the Government printing office were remedied. There is hardly room left for recutting after binding. The work is, we believe, issued gratuitously by the Government, and as such publications ought to go, as far as possible, to those most interested and most to be benefitted, and as this is the desire and aim of the Department, we advise our readers to make the proper application which will bring them the Journal as it is issued. G. D. H. Publications Received. Prairie Farmer, June, July and August. Bulletin Acad. Nat. Sci. Cordoba Arg. Rep. S. A. Vol. X, pt. 2. Annals Ento. Soc. of France. 1887. Annals Nat. Mus. Costa Rica. Vol. I, 1S87. Naturae novitates. Nos. 11-15. Bulletin Ento. Soc. Belgium. June, July and August. Deutsche Ento. Zeitschrift. 1888. Journal Nat. Hist. Soc. Wurtemburg. 1888. Archives Nat. Mus. Rio Janeiro. Vol. VII, 1887. l8th Ann. Rep. Ento. Soc. Ontario- 1887. Can. Naturalist. No. 619, Vol. XX. Le Naturaliste Canadien. June and July, 1888. West American Scientist. No. 3, 1888. Journal N. Y. Micros. Soc. Vol. IV, No. 3. " Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist. Vol, II, No. i. Trans. Conn. Acad. Arts and Sciences. Vol. VII, pt. 2. Annual Rep. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 1887-8. Bulletin Ohio Agr. Exper. Station. Nos. 3-4. Psyche. Vol. V, Nos. 145-148. HTOROGlt ¥0L. lY. BROOKLYM, NOVEMBER, 1888, NO. 8, PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE A. A. A. S. {Continued from page 134.3 Thursday, i p. m. — Club met as per adjournment and tlie minutes of previous meetings were read and approved. Mr. L. O. Howard and Dn D. S. Kellicott were appointed a Com- mittee to arrange programs for the meetings to be held during the week. In the discussion of the President's Address Prof. Osborn mentioned the Putnam collection in the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, Davenport, Iowa, as containing the material in Cocddce and Solpugidce, worked by Mr. J. Duncan Putnam, as also his collections in Utah, Montana, Idaho, etc, Mr. Howard remarked upon the material used by Dr. Hagen for bottoms of cases as being Italian Poplar, imported for the purpose, Mr. Fletcher spoke of the use of Basswood for the same purpose. Dr. Riley remarked upon the cases used in European collections. At the request of the President, Mr. James Fletcher made some re- marks upon Canadian collections. Of those available for reference by students he spoke particularly of the collection of the National Museum of the Geological Survey at Ottawa. The nucleus of this was a large collection, chiefly exotic diurnal Lepidoptera, purchased from Mr. Gamble Geddes. To this however had been added many valuable col- lections made by the members of the Survey staff, notably by Prof. J. Macoun and Messrs. G. M. Dawson, Tyrrell & Dowling, and J, M. Macoun. It contained about 10,000 specimens and some types. He also spoke of the collection of the Entomological Society of Ontario, which he characterized as a good working general collection, containing — 146 — specimens in all Drders. Great pains had been taken to have the identi- fications verified. Many valuable additions had been lately made by members of the Society. Speaking of "types' or rare species, Mr. Fletcher spoke very sirongly in favor of their being deposited for safe-keeping in Public Museums, where they might not only be preserved from destruction but would be accessible for examination by students. It was well that now Entomologists had both in the National Museums', at Washington and at Ottawa, depositories where rarities might be thus preserved from loss. He further asked for opinions from those present as to the technical meaning of the word "type;" his own view was that nothing should be labelled " type'' even by the describer of a new species, except the actual specimens before him at the time of drawing up the description, and if there were more than one specimen each should be carefully labelled at the time, with a consecutive number. He suggested that the number of specimens used might also be given beneath this consecutive number. Example — If a species had been described from 3 specimens these would be labelled : Type No. ^, Type No. |, Type No. f. He was of the opinion that if a describer subsequently distributed other material, even although he considered it quite typical of his species, he was not justified in labelling it "Type," but it might be labelled "Typical." He had received from one author a specimen marked as "type " of a species de- scribed some years before, which turned out not even to belong to that species at all, but was a specimen wrongly named from memory and without even examination of the original material. Mr. Howard expressed his agreement with Mr. Fletcher in the matter of types. Dr. Riley expressed as his opinion that specimens determined by the author as identical with original specimens which served as basis for description or as representative of the species might also be con- sidered as typical, but not as the original types of the species. Prof Webster thought types should be deposited in Public Institu- tions or Collections as a guard against loss of correct specimens. He urged also the importance of examining amateur collections where rare species may sometimes be buried under common names. Mr. Smith would consider no specimens that were after determina- tions, even by the author, as types. Mr. Osborn preferred to indicate a difference between specimens determined as typical of a species and those which served as the basis for the original description and called attention to the fact that the spe- cimen first described often proved to be not representative of the spe- — 147 — cies when a greater amount of material had been gathered. In such case the later specimens were the safer guides for comparison. Mr. Smith instanced as illustrating this point the descriptions of Arciia anna, Grote, and persephone, of the same author, the former species proving to be simply an aberrant form o^ persephone. Herbert Osborn presented notes on the origin of the wing in Aicu- rodes, and exhibited slides to illustrate the points observed. *' Slight pressure upon fresh adults of Aleurodes causes the protrusion of pleural folds upon the pruthorax and the abdominal segments. These pro- trusions agree precisely in outline and position with the ex[)anded pleural portions of the same parts as seen in prepupal and pupal stages. Specimens in different stages of development show a modification of this pleural portion in meso- and meta-thorax during prepupal and pupal stages to form more contracted, denser and darker colored parts from which the wings of imago are produced. The pleural expansions of prothorax and abdomen are simply contracted to conform to the outline of the body when the imago issues from the scal^, but are readi y extended by pressure. No such protrusit)ns occurring on the meso- and meta-thorax would seem to indicate that the portion thus extended on the other segments has in these been transformed into the sack-like expansion of wings. "' The time for the convening of section "F' having arrived it was decided hj motion that the Club should meet again immediately after adjournment of the section and also at nine o'clock in the morning and after adjournment of section "F" in the afternoon of the followuig day. The Club reconvened at 3:30 and a paper by Clarence M. Weed on the parasites of the honey-suckle Sphinx, Hemaris dijffinis, Boisd, , was read by the Secretary. On the Parasites of the Honey-Suckle Sphinx, Hemaris diffinis, Boisd. By Clarence M. Weed. Last August my attention was called to a parasitic attack upon the lar\'3e of Hemaris diffinis which were then abundant upon the bush honey-suckle ( Diervilla irifida ) on the grounds of the University of Illinois; and a large number of the larvae were collected and the para- sites bred. So far as I am able to learn from an examination of the Uterature at hand no parasites of this Sphinx have as yet been recorded. The insects engaged in the attack belonged to three different spe- cies — two being primary parasites and the third a secondary parasite. The first two were Rhogas fiimipcnuis, Cresson, and an apparently un- described variety o^ Apanteles limettilidis, Riley; while the third, which attacks the Apanteles is a species of Hemiteles, probably undescribed. — 14»— Rhogas fumipennis. Cresson. This insect was described (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, Vol. II, p. 378) in 1869 by Mr. E. T. Cresson from a specimen (9) collected in Illi- nois, and I believe, has not since been especially mentioned in our literature, so that its host is now first reported. The only other North American species of Rhogas whose life- histories have been observed so far as known to me are [i] the par- <;5///c«5 of Norton (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, Vol. II, p. 327), and [2] the ri/eyi of Cresson (Ibid, p. 383). The former was bred from Lophvrus abietis, Harr., by its describer ; and the latter from Acronycia oblinita, Sm. & Abb., by Dr. Riley (Third Kept. St. Ent. Mo., p. 71). The breeding of a Rhogas from a tenthredinid is exceptional, and though it has twice been reported in Europe, — once by S. V. Vollenhoven, who bred R. drcumscripitis, Nees, from a Lophyrus cocoon, and again by Brischke, who mentions the breeding of a Rhogas from a Nematus co- coon, — the fact Jias commonly been discredited by European Entomo- logists (Marshall, Monogi'aph of Brit. Braconidae, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1885, Pt. I, p. 87). This additional testimony however by so reliable an observer as Norton renders it almost certain that some spe- cies attack Hymenopterous larvae. But the normal habit of this interesting genus is to attack young Lepidopterous larvce and kill them before they are ready to become pupEe. Marshall remarks: "The insects of this genus manifest a peculiar economy. They are solitary parasites of young lepidopterous larvse, the bodies of which they do quit at the time of pupation, but make their cocoons inside protected by the indurated skins of their victims. The perfect Rhogas ultimately escapes through a hole bored in the posterior dorsal segments of the caterpillar." And Dr. Riley says that R. rileyi causes "the larva of the Smeared Dagger to die when about full grown, and its contracted and hardened skin, which may often be seen during the winter with its head attached fastened to the twigs of apple and willow trees, forms a snug little house, where the parasite undergoes its transformations, and through which it gnaws a round hole to escape the latter part of April." The habits of Rhogas fu7nipennis correspond very well with those of the species just mentioned. The dead Hemaris larvae may be found attached to the twigs of their host plant greatly shriveled, and with the skin hard and dry. Inside of this is the Rhogas pupa, and when the insect is ready to emerge it gnaws a circular opening, about two mm. in diameter, in the posterior dorsal segments and comes forth. I judge that the time spent in the pupa state is about a fortnight. Our specimens — 149— were collected during the latter part of August, and the adults emerged early in September. Apanteles limenitidis, Riley, var. On the under surface of the leaves infested by the Hemaris larvae, there were frequently found solitary yellow cocoons, which were at once recognized as belonging to some of the Microgasterince. From numer- ous specimens collected there emerged early in September two speci- mens of an Apan/eles, and ten specimens of a Hemiteles. The former approach nearly to A. Imienitides, bred by Dr. Riley from Lwienitis disippus, (Third Rept. St. Ent. Mo., p. 158), differing principally in the color of the posterior femora, which are reddish with black tips, while in typical liinenitidis they are wholly black. The cocoons in shape, color and position are apparently similar in the two forms. The secondary parasite is, as I have already stated, an apparently undescribed Hemiteles, but I prefer to wait until the genus can be more thoroughly worked up before speaking of it definitely. A second paper by Mr. Weed on the Hymenopterous parasites of the strawberry leaf-roller Phoxopteris cotnptana, FroL, was read by Mr. Howard. On the Hymenopterous Parasites of the Strawberry Leaf-Roller PHOXOPTERIS COMPTANA, Frol. By Clarence M. Weed. So far as I can learn the only positive record* of a parasite attacking the common strawberry leaf-roller {Phoxopteris comptana, Frol.) to be found in American literature occurs on page 97 of the Report of the Michigan State Horticultural Society, where, in an article concerning this insect. Professor A. J. Cook wTites : "There is an Ichneumon fly that is very abundant in Michigan, which preys upon this leaf-roller. I think it is undescribed. It cer- tainly is not referred to as a destroyer of the leaf-roller. I have not ac- cess to Cressons description of the genus Eiphosoma, but from the very short description, and figure, given by Packard, this species would seem to belong to that ^enus." * The only other mention of possible parasitism upon this species I have met with is by Professor S. A. Forbes, who writes : " * * * from a breeding cage contain- ing larvae of this and another leaf-roller {Cacacia obsoletana) *** I obtained last July specimens of a hymenopterous parasite belonging to the genus Bracon. Un- fortunately, however, it is impossible to tell from which of these species this parasite was bred."— Thirteenth Rept. St. Ent. 111., p. 92. — 150— "This species is black, with legs, ventral surface of abdomen, ring about the eyes, and base of the wings yellow. The antennae are 4 mm. long, the wings about 3 mm. The ovipositor is black and about as long as the wings. The thorax and abdomen are finely punctured." In working over the Ichneumonidce in the Laboratory collection I found many examples of a species oi Cremastiis which had been bred from Phoxopieris comptana. I was at first disposed to refer them to C. piceus, Cresson, (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, .Vol. IV, p. 176), but on sending a specimen to Mr. Cresson for comparison with the type, was kmdly in- formed that it diffeied materially from this species, and in fact from everything else in the collection of the American Entomological Society. I had seen the Michigan species and from my recollection of it togeiher with the above description, surmised that it was the same as ours, and on comparing a specimen, kindly submitted to me by Prof Cook, found my surmise to be correct. Besides this Cremasius we have bred from P. comptana a single spe- cimen of a very well marked species of Glypia which is also apparently undescribed. The first mentioned species is described below under the name Cremashis cookii, the specific name being given in honor of the gentleman who first called attention to the insect ; and the second is treated of as Glypta phoxup/eriJis, being so called because of the insect it infests. Cremastus cookii, sp. n. The North American species of Cre??iasftis have as yet received little attendon. Eight species are recognized by Cresson in his Synopsis of the Hymenoptera (pp. 204, 328), five of which were described by Provancher from field specimens ; two by Mr. Cresson; one (61 retinice) having been bred from Retinia rigidana, Fernald, and the other {C. piceus) collected in the field ; and one (C. forbesi) by myself, it having been bred from Teras ?nimiia, Robinson. Hence it appears that but two of the eight American species now known have had their hosts recorded. A lot of leaf-roller larva:; were collected on blackberry at Anna, 111., June 6, 1884. Transferred to breeding cages at Normal tnree of the parasites emerged June 28, two more July i, and one more July 3. The moths {P. coinptana) began emerging June 21 and continued to appear until July i. Both sexes of the parasites were represented. Another lot of the same Tortricid collected on raspberry at the same time and place yielded two specimens {(^ (^) of the parasite, differing somewhat in the color of the face from the others, which are treated of below as variety rufiis. —151 — From larvae of this leaf-roller collected on strawberry at Villa Ridge, April 4, 1883, a (^ Cremaslus was bred April 21, and a 9 of the same species appeared May 5. Another specimen was bred in August, 1883, from Phoxopteris larvae taken at Anna. Besides these bred specimens this parasite has been taken by sweep- ing in strawberry fields at Normal during May and June, 1883 ; and at Urbana during July, 1885. Description. — The imago may be described as follows : Len>,'th 6 to 7 mm. 9- Black ; clypeus, mandibles, maxillEc, palpi and upper two-thirds of eye-orbits, yellow. Antennae almost as long as body, piceous, yellowish brown beneath near base. Face punctate. Metathorax, including scutellum, shm- ing, punctate. Metathorax with the elevated lines well developed, and posterior portion of central dorsal area transversely aciculate, while anterior portion of same area, and the greater portion of the other areas, rather coarsely punctate. Posterior margins of abdominal terga, behind the second, sometimes brownish. Ventrum of abdomen yellowish. Ovipositor % as long as abdomen. Anterior and middle legs including coxse, light yellow, with tarsi dusky. Posterior legs dull yellowish red, with coxje, except at tip, and basal portion of trochanters black, and tarsi dusky. Tegulee and base of veins whitish yellow ; rest of veins, and stigma, except whitish spot at base, pale brown. Described from many specimens bred in Illinois from Phoxopteris comptana; and one specimen bred by Prof. A. J. Cook from the same Tortricid in Michigan. The male differs from the female in having the entire face below the insertion of the antennae and a line below a spot in front of the tegulae vellow, and another yellow patch which varies much in size (being some- times wanting) on each side of the front of the mesonotum. In a well marked variety of the male of the male, of which we have bred two specimens, the face, eye-orbits and under surface of scape are distinctly reddish, almost approaching vermillion. It may be called variety riifus. Glypta phoxopteridis, sp. n. From a number of larvae of/*, comptana collected on blackberry at Anna, July 14, 1884, there was bred early in August a single specimen of an apparently undescribed species of Glypta for which I propose the above name. The species is so well marked, and is of such economic interest in this connection, that I describe it now, notwithstanding my belief that the fewer are the descriptions that are drawn up from single specimens of parasitic Hymenoptera, the better will it be for Science. Length 7 mm. 9- Black, varied with white; face except space beneath an- tennae, broad eye-orbits, clypeus, mandibles except teeth, palpi, ventrum and sides of thorax, (eguliie and wide line running forward, scutellum, post scutellum, lateral and posterior margins of metanotum with space on meson reaching two-thirds the way to the anterior margin, basal and apical margins of abdominal terga, with vent- — 152— rum of abdomen, white. Legs yellowish red, with coxae and trochanters of anterior and middle pairs, whitish, as are the posterior tarsi, except the basal half of first joint which is dusky. Wings hyaline, irridescent ; nervures and stigma dark brown. Ovipositor as long as abdomen. The antenncie are broken off of the only specimen at hand, so I am unable to de- scribe them now. Described from one specimen bred from Phoxopteris comptana, Frol., August, 1884. Herbert Osborn presented a paper on the "Food Habits of tlie Thripidce. "* Mr. Smith remarked that he considered the habits of the group as very important economically and hoped additional information could be stated here. Mr. Howard mentioned the supposed occurence in Europe, in Phylloxera Galls, of the species called Thrips phylloxerce by Prof Riley. Mr. Webster stated that he had kept a species of Thrips for several weeks on wheat without other nutriment. Mr. Fletcher mentioned the injury done on exhausted meadow lands in Canada to June Grass {Poa prafcnsis) '\x\6. to Timothy {Phkiim pratense) which was apparently due to Thrips. Mr. Howard had seen the species mentioned by Prof Comstock and had known cases where every stalk of grass showing injury would be found on examination to contain Thrips. Mr. Smith said he had t)bserved Thf-ipidcB in galls but had not con- considered them as the authors of the galls or as feeding upon the larvae. Mr. Smith asked Mr. Westcott for information concerning Illinois collections. Mr. Westcott remarked that there were a few good collecdons in Illinois and invited the President and others to examine them in person. Mr, Smith remarked upon the collection of Mr. Bruce, especially commending the rich series in certain species which were represented by such number of specimens that the lines of variation could be very clearly followed. Adjourned to meet the following morning. Friday Morning. — Club met at nine o'clock, and the reading of the minutes having been deferred, the Club listened to a paper by Mr. D. S. Kellicott on Hepialiis argeniioniaculata. To be published in Insect Life. —153— Note on Hepialus argentiomaculatus. 13y D. S. KELLICt)TT. At the Ann Arbor meeting of this Club 1 described the larva and pupa of an unknown species of moth, supposed to be one of the Cossidce. I provisionally called it Cossus alni. I'he examples were obtained in Oswego Count\-, N. Y., from the roots and stems of Alnus incana. I showed that the larva probably requned three years to complete its growth and that the habits were substaniially those of the better known species of its group. Efforts to obtain the imago were fruitless until this present summer. A pupa sent to me from Hastings Center, Oswego County, N. Y., June ist, gave a female imago June 2nd and it proved io\)Q Hepialus argentio- maculatus. I have little to add to what I have already said in the Club concern- ing its history. I have found the wood-peckers most successful rivals in collecting the mature larvi\?. In the Fall before the final changes are to occur tliey bore up into the stems and the birds then seek them and suc- cessfuU)' re^nove them from burrows that are deep in the wood. As the larva does not then open the way to the surface the bird must locate it by sounding. The larvoe occur in abundance in the locality where found. 1 have sought for it at Buffalo and elsewhere without finding it. Mr. Schwarz stated that he had collected the species on ihe shore of Lake Superior, near Marquette, July 29th of the present year. Mr. Smith stated that he had met with it in various places and he believed it to be probably quite generally distributed, and breeding in Oak, Willow and Poplar. Mr. Kellicott remarked that he had taken Prionoxystus querciperda from the lunbs of Red Oak. Herbert Osborn presented a note on the occurrence o'i Cicada riniosa. Say, in Iowa. " During the present summer 1 have received from a student, Mr. F. A. Sirrine, living in Tama Co. . Iowa, a lew specimens of Cicada rimosa, Sav. As this is the first time I have met with specimens collect- ed in the State and as I had supposed its distribution did not cover any portion of the State it is perhaps worth while to put its occuirance on rec(Md Its distribution must be local or else its occurance quite rare, otherwise it would probably have been noticed by some of the collectors in the manv years during which insects have been collected in low^a. The specimens received were collected in a grove in the North Eastern part of Tama Co. and said to be quite abundant there. Another student, — 154— living in Worth Co., is quite sure he has seen the same species there, but I have seen no specimens."* Prof. O. S, Westcutt presented the following Entomological Mem- oranda. ENTOMOLOGICAL MEMORANDA. By Prof. O. S. Wkstcott. L While at Port Arthur. Ontario, Canada, in July, 1888, I was in- formed by Mr. John Merrill f)f that place, that in June of this year his attention was called to a great gathering of butierfiies. On close investig- ation he discovered that the centre of attraction for ihe butterflies was a dead dog. The fondness of many diurnals for carrion is already a matter of rect)rd and this memorandum is made onlv as corroborative. So near as could be learned from Mr. Merrill's descriptions, the gathering con- sisted ma.\v\\y o( Danai's arc/i/ppus, supplemented by Limenitis arthemis, Melitcea and Colias. In all, Mr. Merrill counted one hundred and ten examples. n. At the same place, July 20th to 23rd, 1888, I took nineteen e.xamples of IMelifiPa. Of these one was nvcteis, and seventeen tharos, eight of the form niarcia, and nine of the form ni07-pheus. Query : — Should marcia and morpheus be found abundantly together during the latter part of July, if, as supposably demonstrated by Wm. H. Edwards, they are seasonal variations, due to the varying degrees of temperature to which the pupx' have been subjected } in. On a gravel work in the park at Sault St. Marie, Mich., Aug. ist, 1888, I gathered twenty pups, apparently of some Agrotis. The cater- pillars had selected a nearly solid foundation on which to pupate, but, e.xposed as they were to the foot of every pedestrian, many others had been crushed. Why should thev leave the grass plots and resort to the gravel walk as a preferred place for their transformation .? IV. In the monograph of the genus Lac/nioslcrna*^ Dr. Horn remarks o{ L. ftisca : "This species is probably the most widely distributed of any in' our fauna and at the same time the most abundant wherever it occurs." This opinion is doubtless concurred in by most, if not all col- lectors, and yet some observations I have made for the last two years * Since this note was read I have seen specimens from Worth County collected the present season by the student above mentioned. ** Transactions of the American Entomological Society, Vol. XIV, p. 245. —155— may be regarded by some as casting a shadow of doubt on this belief. Having taken occasion to capture L. /iisca, Frol., and L. gihbosa, Bur- meister, in considerable numbers during the last two seasons and having preserved memc>randa of numbers taken and dates of capture, I embrace this oppoitunity of putting such memoranda on record. In the June issue of "Entomolocica Americana" (Vol IV, p. 56,) Mr. J. B. Smith remarks that ."observations made by several Entomo- logists indicate that the species \o{ Lachnosterna\ relieve each other, — i. e. appear successively, though a few will have a long life and overlap. * * * It will be a valuable addition to knowledge if collectors would note dates of first appearance, of greatest abundance and of last capture." The memoranda I have made wil', in a small way, relieve collectors from this implied criticism. My captures were made at Maywood, Cook Co., Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, a place about 12 miles West of Lake Michigan. I used a large funnel-shaped trap, made to fit around a street lamp. In fair weather the trap was allowed to remain out all night. It was so con- structed that any beetle flying against the inwardly sloping glass sides of the street lamp would inevitably be taken. The following table exhibits the date of capture and the number of L. fiisca and L. gibbosa taken in this trap. — o ^ 8 87. o — MAY JUNE 1 9 II 12 15 16 18 19 20 21 23 24 25. 9 11 12 13 14 Fusca 27 52 20 9398 22 90 125 83 37 48 613 20 33 29 12 Gibbosa 1028 2 25 39 35 37 46 9 I 31 28 17 5 It is unfortunate that these observations were not conducted daily for a series of months. But moon-light takes the place of gas-light for a respectable fraction of each month and occasional storms as well as persistent foul weather dampen the ardor of both victim and collector. This table indicates the correctness of the statements of both Dr. Horn and Mr. J. B. Smith. The greater abundance o^ fusca and the overlap of the species are both sufficiently evident. Similar collections the present jear are shown by the following table. o 1888. o JUNE JULY 1 2 3 4 5 6 4 38 7 I 19 8 24 264 9 ID 371 10 2 4 II 2 86 12 6 355 13 9 204 25 84 29 20 30 3 65 I I 152 2 54 Fusca I 4 35 5 75 I 10 Gibbosa -156- This table presents a very different appearance. While the observa- tions of 1887 indicate the greater abundance oi/usca, those of 1888 in- dicate the far greater abundance of gibbosa. It is not unnoticed that these observations began later in the seaison. Constant cold and storm}' weather in the month of May prevented the use of the trap, but the con- tinuity of the dates in June 1888 is more satisfacttiry than the somewhat broken series of 1887, ant! a comparison of the two \ears may be very satisfactorilv instituted to about tlie middle of June. If the excess of gibbosa as compared with fusca in the present season is exceptional, there must have been some strong influences at work, meteorological or other, to have occasioned this surprising disparity in numbers. Many speculations might be indulged in but none tlint occur to me seem to suflficientlv satisfactory to warrant their presentation as explaining what may be abnormal in the comparative abundance of these two species in my locality the present year. V. With the 1^2 gibbosa taken on July ist, 1888, among other insects I took great numbers of CrambiiLe. They were too numerous to be counted with any reasonable expenditure of time, but I counted the con- tents of a small box closelv packed with them, and using this box as a measure, estimated their number in excess of eight thousand. VI. As indicative of the omnivorous capacity of m)' trap I append a list of its contents on the night of June 13th, 1888. 1. Clivina impressit'rons, Lee... 3 2. " aniericana. Dej 2 3. Loxopeza grandis, Hentz .... i Lebia viridis, Say 2 " iileuritica, Lee 2 " fu>cata, Dej i riatynii-; obsoletus. Say 18 Pterosticlms sp. ? 40 9. Badister pulchellu';, Lee 3 10. Agonoderus comma, Fab 730 11. '• partiarius. Say .. 4 12. Anisodactyhis diseoideus, Dej. 11 13. " sericeus, ILarr.. 23 14. Beinbidium eordatum, Lee.. . . i 15. Cnemidotns edentukis, Lee... i 16. Colymbetes seulptiiis, Harr. . . i 17. Gaurodytes obtiLsatus, Say... 4 847 For'd 847 18. Cryptobium pallipes, Grav. . . . 2 19. Heterocerus substriatus, Ries i 20. Copris anaglypticus, Say ..... 2 21. Apliodius j^ranarius, Linn ... 19 22. Tro.v unis.triatus, lieauv 2 23. " capillaris. Say I Laehnosterna gibbosa. Burm. .204 " fusca, Fiol. ... 9 " ilicis, Burm. ... i Ligyrus relictus, Say i Melanotus communis, GylL ... i Diabrotica vittata, Fabr 2 Notoxus anchora, Ilenlz. ... i Pyrrarctia isabelia. Abb.&Sm. I Telea polypliemus. Cram i Opliion bilineatum, Say 5 24. 25- 26. 27. 28. 29. and 92 as yet undetermined examples, representing not less than 32 dif- ferent species. This list of 65 species and 11 92 specimens enumerates —157— only recognizable, mostly good material, no account being made of a mass of damaged and microscopic material which found its way imme- diately in the waste basket. Lachnosierna^ so abundant presence is of course thoroughly destructive of the respectability of any Bombycid or Noctuid which is wheedled into the crowd. My best moth-catches with the trap are hence confined to the evenings before the advent o'i Lachno- stcrna and after its exodus. Unfortunately, no angesthetizer that I have tried is so promptly effective with vigorous Coleoptera as to allow the trap to furnish undamaged Lepidopiera, when beetles are abundant.* Prof. Kellicott slated that he had frequently observed butterflies at- tracted to carrion. Mr. Smith had noted the location of a dead dog and after removal of dog had observed that butterflies collected at the spot. Dr. Peabody had observed artheviis collected on foul smelling objects. Dr. Kellicott had taken cresphontes in barn yards in Michigan and found them there in July last more common than Asterias. Mr. Smith expressed his opinion that extensive collecting would re- veal about equal numbers of both forms ol MelitcBa. Dr. Kellicott inquired if the pupae of the insects occurring in such numbers on gravel walks were formed there. Mr. Westcott stated that he was sure they yxQXQ there and completely exposed and that knew of no way to account for their occurrence but that they pupated there. iNIr. Osborn stated that in Iowa Lachnosterna gibbosa was more abuntlant than usual this year. Fusca has been most abundant every three years, 1880, 1883 and 1886. ]Mr. Schwarz remarked that the notes showed that much can be done bv thorough collecting for certain species and urged collecting more systematical h*. Mr. Smith remarked that he had collected Lachnosterna carefully the present summer and had observed that the females appeared first, for * Since writing the above I have unearthened a few memoranda made in 1886. For a few days I took in my trap //«<■« and gibbosa as follows : MAY JUNE 26 36 196 27 3 18 28 47 94 29 4 12 30 ■ 5 58 I Fusca 24 Gibbosa 56 My notes say that the 27th of May was cold and stormy. Of these /z/j-^-a care- fully examined for sex I found the ratio of males to females 7 to i. O. S. W. -158- ■ fusca, a week previous to the males, then the males were more abundant for a time and after that the females more abundant. The males appear to be short-lived as compared with the females. He would take females fresh and full of eggs, then old and full of eggs and then very old battered with few eggs. Gibbosa is not common at Washington. Ilicis is rather rare wherever known but a few may be beaten from trees. In New York he collected in early evening and watched for movements of the insects in grass and the most collected were ilicis while but very few of these were taken at the lamps. Many species are absolutely local. Fusca and inversa are everywhere. Ajffinis occurs in very limited spots. He had observed in Washington one particular tree where it was almost certain to be found. Mr. Ulke, collecting later in the sason, had \.d.V.Qn fra/erna. Mr. Webster remarked that he had collected many years in Eastern Illinois (DeKalb Co.) without getting gibbosa but found it common in the Western part of the State (Stark Co. ) and he was somewhat surprised at Mr. Westcott's securing it in such large numbers. Mr. Westcott stated that he had collected gibbosa for twenty years near Chicago. Dr. Peabody had no doubt that the condition of weather would affect the numbers o'i Lachnosterna which would appear on certain nights. He doubted whether it would influence the numbers that would appear in a given season. These insects transform to imagos in autumn, and hybernate in that stage; after having endured the cold and wet of a long winter, it is hardly possible that their emergence would be prevented by a little cold or wet in May or June, unless they should be actually drown- ed out. When a warm night gives them their opportunity they will ap- pear in numbers determined chiefly by the conditions affecting m their larval growth. Mr. Smith said conditions of weather have a great influence; the beetles transform in Fall and it takes wet hot weather to bring them out in the Spring. A motion to continue the session of the Club through the morning was lost, many of the members wishing to attend meeting of section "F." Mr. Howard made a few remarks upon the recent successful ex- periments made under Dr. Riley's direction at Washington with kerosene emulsion against white grubs. (A fuller account of these experiments than that given by Mr. Howard has since been published in Insect Life, Vol. I, No. 2.) Mr. Webster expressed his doubt of the practicability of this plan on large farms. Mr. Howard said it could probably be used only on lawns or where special value of ground warranted the necessary expense. —159— Dr. Peabody stated that he was sorry that Prof. Forbes was not present to tell his own story, as he had used the kerosene emulsion with success, but, as he remembered, the conclusion was that it would cost too much per acre, to be of general service. INIr. James Fletcher gave a descriptive account of an expedition he had made with Mr. S. Scudder to Nepison, North of Lake Superior, in (juest of the eggs of diurnal Lepidoptera ; but particularly fpr those of Chionobas macotmii, Carterocephalus niandan, and Colias interior. This expedition had been eminently successful. Not only had eggs been procured of all the species mentioned, but of many others besides. An account was given of the methods of capturing, caging and general treatment which had given the best results. It was found most con- venient to place all the cages near together in the woods, so that they could all be visited and examined without loss of time, and also that fe- males might be carried a long lime in smaller boxes before caging. Eggs had even been procured from Colias interior which had been sent from Sudbury to Ottawa (323 miles) by mail in a tomato can. In speaking of cages it was pointed out that these could be made with great ease. Mr. Scudder had given most valuable suggestions in this line. Cages for all small species can be made in a few minutes by cutting off the top and bottom of a tomato can and then fastening a piece of netting over one end, either by slipping an elastic band over it or tying it with a piece of string. The female is then placed in this over a growing plant of the species the larvae are known to feed upon. These cages had answered well for all the skippers which feed on grass, and the small Argynnides. For such species as lay on the foliage of shrubs or trees bags had to be tied over living branches, care being taken that the leaves were not crowded up ; but that they should stand out freely so that the female could lay, if such were her habit, either upon the upper or lower side or the edge of the leaves. In this way eggs were obtained oC Nisoniades icelus and Papilio tiirnus. Another cage for insects which lay upon low plants and which is easily constructed, is to cut two flexible twigs and bend them into the shape of two arches which are put one over the other at right angles to each other with the ends pushed into the ground; over this pent-house so formed a piece of gauze is thrown and the edges are kept down either with pegs or earth laid upon them. This kind was useful for larger insects than could be placed in tomato cans. In these, eggs of Chionohiis macounii, Colias eurytheme, etc., were secured. Interesting notes were given on the habits of some of the species collected, and the larvae of Carterocephalus matidan, Pamphila hobo?nok and P. mystic were exhibited as well as specimens of Chiojiobas macounii and Colias interior. Out of 19 species of Diurnals caged eggs had been obtained from 17. (to be continued.) — i6o — On a New and Interesting Spider. By Geo. Marx, M. D. Washineton, D. C. The family Pholcidce has been hitherto placed in close relation with the Theridiidce, but the peculiar structural characters of this small but well marked family have made this affinity doubtful to some of our systematists. In fact, the right place for the PholcidiS has »ot been found so far, and all our modern arachnologists content themselves with leaving it where it was, near the ThendudcB. Duges alone placed it with Fiiisiata, but for what reason I do not know. In July last I received, from the vicinity of Lookout Mountain, Tenn. , a few males and females of a spider, which were collected in the forests of that mountainous region, where they had constructed, at the underside of projecting cliffs and rocks, large, white, saucer- or lampshade-like webs, in which they dwelt, assuming an inverted posi- tion, and shaking the web like a Pholcus, when one approaches. This spider appeared at the first glance to be a Pholcus from its long, slender legs, the shape of the body and the arrangement of the eyes ; but a closer study showed that it was an entirely new animal, with characters widely differing from any known spider, and yet com- bining in itself some of those characters upon which a certain number of families form a natural group, viz : Dysderidce, Filistatida: and the Territelaritv. Moreover, this spider brings into this group the Pholcidce and ScytodidiX, since it possesses characters which belong to these families. The principal and peculiar characters of this interesting spider are as follows : // has four true lamellar trachete or lungs like the Territel- aricB. It has a cribellum and calamistrum like the FilistatidiC. It has the nearly vertical mandibular claws and the male palpus, like the Dysderidce. It has the legs and body shape and the arrangement of the eyes of the Pholcidce. But it is unlike the hitherto known Territelari.c in the presence of a cribellum and calamistrum, in the slenderness of the legs and in the shape of the body. It is unlike the FilistatichE from its four lungs, the position of the mandibular claws and the form of the labium. It is un- like the Dysderidce from the number of the eyes, the presence of the cribellum and calamistrum and the length of the tarsi. It is unlike the Pholcidce by the presence of four lungs, the cribellum and calamistrum and the direction of the mandibular claws. The fact that our spider has four lungs places it at once in the 6 \ra fx i fir HypocJiilus Thorellii. Marx. — i6i — sub-order Teirapneiimones, but the fact that it spins a web Hke a Tubi- Jelaria excludes it from the Terri/elan'ce and demands at least a new family. I have named this interesting spider, at the suggestion of Prof. Thorell, Hypochihis, and, in appreciation of this distinguished naturalist, Hypochihis thorcUii, and the new famil}- I have called Hypochilidcc. Family HYPOCHILID^, nov. gen. Four lamallar tiacbere, the anterior pair close the base of the abdomen, the posterior in the middle res^ion of the venter. .Mandibular claws nearly vertical. Legs lon^ and slender. Cribellum and calamistruni present. Spiders which make saucer- or lampshade-like webs. HYPOCHILUS, nov. gen. Iliipo below, cheilos lip : from the position of the labium. Cepha'x with a flattened dorsum, dei^ressed in the median region ; sub- circular, posteriorly slightly emarginate ; pai s cephalica rising abruptly. Eyes, 8. 3 in a cluster on each side and two in the middle between them ; the anterior lateral eyes about as far from the margin of the clypeus as their diameter. These eyes are directed downward. The two middle eyes a little lighter than the anterior lateral. Mandibles cylindrical, slightly tumid in the middle region. Claws long, nearly vertical. Maxillaf longer than broad, parallel ; palpus inserted in the middle of the external bolder, Labium broad, short and straight, situate below the maxillce which stand upon it. Abdomen long, subcylindrical ; cribellum semicircular, un- divided. Coxre nearly vertical, not free. Legs long and slender, not spiney. 1.2.4.3. Hypochilus thoreliii, nov. species. Female'. — Measurement: Cepha'x long 5.4. broad 4.4, abdomen long 9.2 mm. Femur Patella Tibia Metatarsus Tarsus Total Leg L 22 mm. 2.4 mm. 19. 2 mm. 13.2 mm. 6 mm. 62.8 mm. " IL 16 " 2.2 " 145 " 10.4 " 5 " 48.1 " " III. 13 " 2.2 " II " 8.6 " 5 " 39.8 " " IV. 15 " 2.2 '• 13 '■ 10.6 '• 5.4 " 46.2 " Cepha'x flattened, with a dcpres-ed venlral area, light yellowish gray with a star-shaped darker colored ventral figure. Pars cejih^a shorter and about half as wide as the thoracic part. Lateral sides vitical. Clypeus low. The two smaller median eyes black, the others large and white. Maridibles whitish gray with a black indistinct figure at the front, as loiiti as patella I, about as thick as femur I, and nearly vertical in position ; claws long, groove bordered at the anteiior side by 5 long and strong teeth, at the niternal border by 4 small tubercles. Maxillre nearly twice as long as broad, parallel, with straight inner borders, truncate at the tip and standing with their narrow and pointed base upon the labium. Sicrnum ovate, truncate anteriorly by the bioad labium, its sides with depressions and a blunt |ioint between coxk IV. Palpi long, equal to meta- tarsus II. Abdomen — upperside mottled with black indistinct lines and figures which leave a somewhat lighter dorsal region. Underside whitish gray ; the borders of the 4 lungs distinct ; no vulva, but the area between the anterior pair of lungs covered with long dark hair. Spinnerets short ; median pair very small. Legs whitish 162 yeliow, Fpotted with iiregular black dots ; tlie discal ends of the joints somewhat thickened and darker coloied ; all legs with a fine and rather long pubescence. No spines. Calamistrum of metatarsus IV short and consisting of long but slender hairs. Male.— Cepha'.x, long 4. Abdomen 6 mm. Palpi as long as abdomen. Ley Femur Patella Tibia Metatarsus Tarsus Total I. 24.5 mm. 2.4 mm. 24 mm. 20.4 mm. 8 mm. 79.3 mm II. 17-5 " 2.2 " 17 " 14.6 " 6 " 57-3 " III. 13 2 " 12.8 " II " 4.6 " 43-4 " IV. 15.6 " 2.2 ■' 15 " 14.4 " 6.6 " 53-8 " Cepha'.x and abdomen like in the female in form and color, trophi also. Palpi long, tibial joint with an elbow at base ; tarsal joint short, club-shaped ; at its underside near the tip, a long spiral bulbus, thick at the base and drawn out in a slender point, hanging free from the palpal tarsus. Legs longer and much thinner than in the female. EXPLANA HON OF THE PLA TE. Fig. I. — Dorsal aspect of a female, much enlarged. 2. — Clypcus with the arrangement of the eyes. Mandibles. 3. — Lateral view of Cepha'.x showing the dorsal depression and the vertical posi- tion of the coxre. 4. —Sternal side of Cepha'x. 13 — Maxilla and labium showing insertion of labial palpus. — Ventral aspect of abdomen. — Spinnerets and cribellum. — Male palpus. — Genital part of the same from the other side. — Claw of female palpus. — Claws of first pair of legs. — Calamistrum. — An enlarged female. Zeuzera pyrina, Fabr. and Z. Canadensis, Herr.-Sch. By E. L. Gr.\ef. From my friend INIr. Angelmann I received two males of the genus Zeuzera Latr. , and as I had not heard of the capture of Z. pyi-ina in the United States and not knowing Herrich-Schafer's species Z. cana- densis I concluded it was the last named. On comparing it with my specimens of the European Z. pyrina I at once once concluded it to be that species. I have yet to compare the females but the males differ in nothing that I can discover. Whether this species is one of the many introduced into this country or whether it is an indigenous species is difficult to determine. In my long e.xperience in field collecting I have never — 163— taken il ami I now hear of a number of specimens being taken in tlie vicinity of Newark, N. J., where the two specimens now represented in my cabinet were also captured. From this last circumstance I would infer the species was introduced from Europe as the larva lives in the trunks of the Walnut, Chestnut and Appletree. Grote, in his last Check-List does not cite A. pyrina as being found in the U. S. , while Dr. Morris (Synopsis Lepidoptera, page 125), and Dr. Packard (Proceedings Phil. Ent. Socy. Vol. 3, p. 390, ) both enum- erate it among the American species. For those who do not possess a copy of Dr. J. G. Morris Synopsis of Lepidi)ptera I append a description of Z. canadensis, H. Sch. "Male. Straw color; primaries thickly covered with little trans- parent brown streaks ; fore part of the disk white, hind part grayish. Secondaries white, with straw-colored veins. Hab. Canada." I should very much like to see a specimen of the true Z. cariaden- sis and any of my friends possessing the species would confer a favor by sending me a specimen for examination. Klateridae in the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio. By Charles Dury. Species of the sub-family Eucnemincs occur in numbers in the vi- cinity of this city. The following species have been identified from this locality. Melasis pectinicornis, Melsh. Taken as it emerged from dead Beech which was riddled with holes made by it. June. Tharops rujicortiis, Say. Abundant, taken as it emerged from dead Beech logs. June. Stethon pechrosus, Lee. Taken from fungus growing on the under- side of Poplar logs. July. Deltometopus amoenicornis , Say. May, July. ' ' rttfipes, Mlsh. June, found running about on dead Beech. Dromceolus cylmdricolUs , Say. June. " siriatus, Lee. June and July. " harrmgloni, Horn. June and July. All occur on Beech. Fornax calceatus, Say, June. " honiii, Bonv. = (9 calceatus. June. " new species. June. " orchesides, Newm. June. All taken on dead Beech. Calceatus and orchesides are very variable in color and size. — 164 — Microrrhagus humeralis, Say. June, July. •' sjibsiniiatus, Lee. June. " impressicollis. Bonv. June. " pectinatus, Lee. June. All taken on dead Beech. 400 humeralis were taken out of a small Beeeh limb that had broken from a neighboring tree. Hypoccehis ierminalis, Lee. Dead Beeeh. Nematodes afropos, Say. ' ' penetrans, Lee, Many of both speeies taken while 'running up and down dead beaeh trees. Some atropos taken from Syeamore were very large in size. While the sun shines warm and bright from the latter part of May until the middle of July members of this interesting sub-family are found actively running about on the dead and dying timber, generally Beeeh. Late in the afternoon they conceal themselves in crevices and under loose bark where they rest for the night. Book Notice. Entomology for Beginners, by A. S. Packard, M. D., Ph. D. 8vo. pp. 367. Henry Holt & Co., New York. The above work is by the generosity of the Author in our posses- sion. It is a compact handy volume, well printed, neat and attractive. In its subject matter it is what it professes to be, but its profession has a strong flavor of modesty. It is a well conceived, well arranged compendium of Entomology for beginners, but it reaches very often and very far into the deep things of the science. What the work treats of can be in no better way summarized than by giving the table of contents by chapters. This is as follows : Chap. I, the structure of Insects ; Chap. 2, growth and metamorphosis of In- sects ; Chap. 3, classification of Insects ; Chap. 4, Insect Architecture ; Chap. 5, Insects mjurious and beneficial to Agriculture ; Chap. 6, di- rections for collecting, preserving and rearing Insects ; Chap. 7, Mode of dissecting Insects; Chap. 8, Cutting and mounting microscopic sec- tions of Insects, and mounting them whole, etc. ; Chap. 9, the Ento- mologists Library. The work is a summary of most that is best in the experience of entomologists up to the present time, compactly arranged and clearly stated. It is a work to which, so far as our knowledge goes, no work heretofore published, can, in the carrying out of the special purpose of its existence be compared. There certainly is no work so well adapted to the needs of the beginner, no work so well fitted as a text book for, schools and colleges. Many of us will no doubt differ from the learned Author on certain matters of opinion, but not one of us but will ac- knowledge his great indebtedness for what Dr. Packard has so ably done. We give the work the unstinted praise it deserves, and recommend it to all beginners or veterans in the science of Entomology. G. D. H. Americana VOL. IV. BROOKLYN, DECEMBER, 1888, NO. 9. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE A. A. A. S. [Co.itinued from page 159.] Dr. Kellicoti commended the methods employed in breeding. Mr. Smith said he was specially interested in the methods employed for securing eggs. Dr. Kellicott stated that he used earthen flower pots in rearing insects. Mr. Fletcher mentioned the use of lamp chimneys as very con- venient cages. Mr. E. A. Schwarz presented a paper on the Insect Fauna of Southern Florida. THE INSECT FAUNA OF SEMITROPICAL FLORIDA WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO THE COLEOPTERA. I3y E. a. Schwarz. "Synopsis of the Hymenoptera of North America north of Mexico;'" 'Revised Catalogue of the diurnal Lepidoptera of America north of Mexico ;" "Monograph of the Aphodiini of America north of Mexico"' — such are a few samples of the titles of numerous works treating on North American insects, the authors thereby intimating that the fauna of North America represents on all sides a well limited area except along the Mexican frontier, and that here it has been found convenient to sub- stitute the political boundaries of the two countries in the absence of a natural dividing line. I have not yet come across a similar work en- titled : JMonograph or Catalogue of a certain family of insects of North America north of Mexico and the West Indies, and it cannot be denied that hitherto very little attention has been paid to the insect fauna of the — 166— region forming the extreme southeastern point of North America; where- as a great deal of interest has been shown for many years in tlic study of the insects of all Orders inhabiiing the south-western extremity.' Of course, it has long been known that there exsisted in southern Florida a colony of West Indian forms but no one knew how large or small this colony was, nor how far north it extended. Most entomologists considered this colony as a very small one, or as having only a temporary character, the insects having flown or having been in some t.ther way brought over from Cuba to disappear again from the Florida coast with- in one season or two. In fact some of die species reported in former times from southern Florida are now again dropped from our lists as doubtfully belonging to our fauna. Aside from this West Indian colony quite a number of species have been described from southern Florida as being peculiar to that section, thus creating the impression of the presence of a distinct endemic fauna in southern Florida. A few of these insects came from Kev West but most of them are simply recorded from "Southern Ploritla," a rather indehnite and somewhat mysterious locality, since it must be remembered that by far the largest part of southern Florida consists of unproductive Cypress or Mangrove swamps, or impenetrable sawgrass savannahs, or overflowed land like the immense stretch of the Fverglades. Thus when last year I had the opportunity of sjjcnding a few weeks on an exploring trip to southern P'lorida, a preparatory study of what was known of the insects of that region furnished hardl}^ any ini'"ormation, and, in fact, I started on my trip quite ignorant regarding the general character and extent of that fauna. To make sure of striking the semi- tropical part of Florida I proceeded at once to Key West and here I found indeed a fauna entirely difterent from any I had found on various previous trips to Florida.* Of course, the island of Key West contains also a great many species well known to me but all these are species of general distribution, either in our Southern States or distributed through both North and South America. After a study of this peculiar fauna of Key West which I also found on many other localities farther north and which constitutes the semitropical fauna of Florida, I have come to the conclusion that it is entirely of West Indian origin, and that the region I shall hereafter circumscribe as Semitropical Florida does not * The following remarks pertain only to the Coleopterous fauna, to the study of which most of my time and attention was paid ; but from what I collected or saw in the other orders I feel confident that the character and extent of the semitropical in- sect fauna as a whole does not differ in the least from that of the Coleoptera. The strong flyers among the insects, viz : certain LepidopterazwA Odonata, differ of course in the moile of immigration but their number is comparatively small. -i67- contain anv endemic forms. In other words, the ilistinctive fauna of Soutlicni l'"iorida is a permanent colony of West Indian forr.y , much more numerous m species than it has hitherto been supposed ; the number in C'o]eoj)tera alone amounting, according to a very low estimate, based upon my collection, to at least 300 species not yet in our cata- logues. In describing sjiecies from Southern Florida the point I have just mentioned has l)een t 'O much overlooked, the result being that manv of these species prove to liaxe been jireviously described from the West Indies. Tliis conclusion which of course cannot be fully proven before we have acquired a more complete knowledge of the West Indian faima, but which is fully sustained by the peculiar composition and mode of occurrence of the semitropical insect fauna of Florida, forms the starting point of the following remarks. Before entering on a discussion of the character and extent of this West Indian colony in Florida it seems worth while and instructive to give a glance at the south-western extremity of North America where our fauna comes also in contact with a semitropical fauna. The great faunal regions known as Nearctic and Neotropical are connected or divided by the Central American fauna which from the nature of the conditions participates in the ciiaracters of both regions, but is more nearly allied to the latter than to tlie former. It is again divided into the fauna of the Central American continent and the Insular fauna of Central America, more commonly called the West Indian fauna ; these two faunal regions being related to each other in the same degree as is the fauna of our Atlantic slope to that of die Pacific slope. At the zone of contact between the North American fauna and that of Mexico the conditions are as follows : The ocean current along the Pacific coast of North America runs from north to south, thus facilitating the spread of more northern species southward. It loses its force and disappears before reaching southern California and thus the North American launa along the coast does not come into contact with that of the Mexican coast. On the mainland we find between CaUfornia and the largest portion of Arizona on the one side and Mexico on the other, a broad tract of the most barren and sterile country * which proves to be a most effectual barrier between the two faunal regions. Farther east, and more especially along the Rio Grande, a complete intermingling of the two faunas takes place in such a way that species of all families partici- pate in this intermingling. It it thus impossible to decide whether a collection of insects comes from Texas or the State of Tamaulipas, or * See Dr. G. H. Horn's "Notes on the ' Biulot^ia Centrali-Americana,' " Trans. Anier. Ent. Soc, Vol. XIII, Month. Proc, p. VII. — 168— whether it comes from southern New Mexico, from south-eastern Arizona, or from Sonora. The Morrison collection, for instance, has been distributed among North American entomologists as coming from south-eastern Arizona and is worked up in the " I-)it)logia Centrali- Americana" as coming from Sonora, Mex. Returning to Florida and the West Indies we find a quite different state of affairs. Florida is apparently well separated from Cuba, the nearest of the West Indian islands, by an ocean which, at its narrowest place, is 90 miles wide. In realty, however, this wide arm of the ocean does nut separate but c>innects the West Indies with Florida ; in lact it is not an ocean but the mightiest river on this globe, with a strong current : in short it is the Gulf stream. As everyone kmiws, the valleys of large streams are most favorable for distributing different faunas. Take the Mississippi River ior instance : it has often been pointed out that along its banks and its valley the fauna and flora of the Southern States extends well up into the Norihern States as far as Iowa and Nebraska, while the current of the river constantly carries numerous species of northern plants and insects into the Southern States. The Gulf stream has neither banks nor a valley and a distribution or migra- tion against the current or up stream is not possible but a distribution with the current takes place as in any other large, river. The result is that Floridian insects and plants cannot migrate southward into the West Indies, while numerous species of West Indian plants and insects are easily carried with the current on to the shores of Florida where the insects find a permanent lodgement because their original food-plants have also established themselves at the same place. In looking for the original home of this colony of West Indian in- sects and plants we have been hitherto too much accustomed ta con- sider the island of Cuba as the only place from which this immigration has taken place. In the task of determining my South Floridian Co- leoptera it was found over and over again that these immigrants may have been described not only from Cuba, but from any other of the West Indian islands, or from the Central American continent south of Yucatan, or even from Columbia and Venezuela — in other words from all parts of Central America which come under the influence of the Gulf stream. As can be seen from any physical atlas, the warm equatorial current enters the Caribbean sea through the Windward Islands and at- taining by this contraction a considerable velocity forms the Gulf stream which flows between the southernmost chain of the West Indies and the Leeward Islands and strikes the Central American continent, flow- ing northward along the coast. Deflected by the projecting peninsula of Yucatan, the stream turns eastward and reaches the coast of Cuba — 169 — and the southernmost part of Flori(hi. Thus the West Indian colony of insects in Florida may come from any part of this vast area swept by the Gulf stream, although the largest proportion comes of course from Cuba since this island is the nearest to Florida. This immigration by the aid of the Gulf stream explains the following interesting phenomenon in geographical distribution. We have seen that insects from the coast of Central America south of Yucatan may occur in Southern Florida ; but the same species often had the power of extending their geographi- cal distribution northward on the Central American mamland through Mexico, thus reaching the south-western limits of the United States. Certain species may occur, therefore, in the United States, in Western Texas or South-eastern New Mexico and in Southern Florida, being however, absent in the intervenmg Southern States, viz : Eastern Texas, Louisiana. Alabama, Georgia, and Northern and Central Florida. This curious distribution has never been pointed out so far as I am aw-are but can be exemplified by numerous species, not only among the Co- leoptera but also other Orders of insects. The distance between Cuba and Florida is not very great, the current of the Gulf stream is very swift, and logs and other debris swept out to sea from the rivers of Cuba may reach the coast of Florida within three or four days ; from Yucatan in about double that time. It is evident that within this short time all such insects may safely be carried from the West Indies to Florida which, in the imago or praeparatory stages, live under bark, or within the wood of trees, or within seeds and similar slieltered conditions, or whose eggs are firmly attached to trees and cover- ed with viscous liquid. But it is evident that this sea voyage is too long for all such insects as do not live in such sheltered positions. As a con- sequence, all adephagous Coleoptera, further all those living under old leaves, in the ground, in very rotten wood and similar places, and finally most of the CbrysomelidcB which lay their eggs either on to the leaves or in the ground are not brought over from the West Indies. There are, therefore, no West Indian Carabidce, Lampyrida, Staphylinidce and other rhypophagous Clavicorn families and very few^ West Indian ScarabccidcB and Chiysomelidir to be found in Southern Florida.* This is a most characteristic feature of the semitropical Coleopterous fauna of Florida, strikingly contrasting with the state of affairs in the south-western ex- tremity of North America. I have stated before that along the Texan and New Mexican frontier there is a perfect intermingling of the North * The absence of fresh water in the coral region of the Keys and tlie mainland south of Miami River necessitates the absence of Dytiscidie and most other aquatic or semi-aquatic families. Even the Everglades and the rivers draining the same at the northern end of Biscayne Bay seem to be almost destitute of acquatic Coleoptera. — IJO— and Central American faunas so that it is impossible to decide whether a miscellaneous collection of Coleoptera comes from Western Texas or the adjacent parts of IMexico. A miscellaneous collection, consisting nnly of about loo species but made promiscuously in semitropical Florida can at a glance be distinguished from a similar collection made in Cuba or any other part of the West Indies. Further, the peculiar composition of this fauna at once precludes the assumption that nny agencies other than the current of the Gulf stream could have been active in assisting the im- migration from the West Indies. To find out the geographical extent of this semitropical fauna in Florida was the chief object of my trip and since I was fortunate enough to transverse the whole length of the region to be taken into consitlerat.on, I have been able to contribute to the solution of this question. But long before I got through with my trip I had come to the conclusion that in the course of my first expeditions to Floritla in the \ears 1875 and 1876 I had been, in the vicinity of Fort Capron and other points on the Indian River, in the very midst of this West Indian colony of insects without capturing any of them, except, accidentally, a few stray specimens. I feel quite sure that my companions and myself passed then within a few- yards of places where we might have collected scores of species belonging to this semitropical fauna. But at that lime we' did not know anything about the peculiar mode of occurrence of this fauna. Some years later, Mr. H. G. Hubbard instituted a careful search at several points on the narrow strip of land lying between the ocean and the Indian River between Capron and Jupiter inlet. He found then for the first time quite a num- ber of these species which I now recognize as West Indian immigrants. All these occured exclusively in small and isolated thickets of hammock land found at wide intervals in the dense shrubbery back of the ocean beach. INIr. Hubbard recognized several trees composing these thickets as West Indian species, but the relation of the insects to this flora was at that time not fully recognized, and some of the more striking species found by Mr Hubbard were shortly afterwards described by Dr. Leconte as belonging to the Floridian fauna. IMost of the more southern Keys are covered with semitropical forest, i. e. forest composed of West Indian trees, while, as I stated be- fore, the true Floridian fauna and flora are almost entirely absent. I'hese islands are, therefore, by no means favorable to a study of the relation of the semitropical to the true Floridian fauna. However, a stay of a few weeks on the shores of Biscayne Bay fully sufficed to settle this question. Here as well as on the mainland farther south and the northernmost Keys (Key Largo and Elliott's Key) the Floridian flora largely infringes upon the semitropical forest and reduces the same to smaller or larger — 171 — islaiui-like patches lying close to the shore or occupying similary isolated patches on the shore of the P^verglades and the few islands in the Ever- glade-^. The bulk of the mainland is covered by pine woods* with an undergrowth composed almost entirely of true Floridian plants. There are (uither vast stretches of what is called "the prairie," /. e. land quite recently formed, partly by the accumulation of seaweeds swept ashore by the waves, and partly by the advance of the Mangroves. This prairie is covered with the same lierbaceous vegetation which we see in similar places in Central Florida and does not contain a single semitropical plant. Even the hammock is invaded by several true Floridian trees : the Eive Oaks, several Palmettos, the Hackberry and others make their appearance and, on higher ground we find plenty of Persea carolinensis. Now on all these trees, m the pine woods and on the prairie, in short wherever there is the Floridian flora we meet the true Floridian insect fauna whereas the semitropical fauna is confined to the semitropical forest.** This fact once recognized, it becomes evident that the north- ward extent ot this fauna is identical with that of the semitropical forest, a fact fully borne out by subsequent experience. \\ e have seen that the semitropical forest occupies the chain of the Ke\s and island-like spots on the shores of Biscayne Bay and farther south on the mainland. North of Miami River the coral formation rapidly sinks below the level of the ground and the land is covered with vast stretches of Mangrove and saw-grass swamps until it is lost into the Everglades. The semitropical forest is no longer to be found here but it is continued northward in a remarkable way on the narrow and sandy coast strip beginning with Cape Florida. Here we meet for the first time with the semitropical maritime flora in its fullest development. It covers as a dense shrubbery the land back of the beach ; but to my surprise I was unable to discover any peculiar Coleoptera on this flora although in Hemiptera I found here quite a number of the most striking species. But in the very midst of this shrubbery, at a distance of from 2 — 300 yards from the beach, there occur little patches of the semitropical forest, these patches being only about one acre in size, rarely larger and often * While it is true that the Pine of Southern Florida, Finns cuhensis^ is also of West Indian origin, its distribution in Florida is quite different from the rest of the semitropical flora and its introduction evidently of a very ancient date. Its fauna does not differ from that of the Yellow Pine (P. palustris) . ** There is, in addition, in Southern Florida a maritime fauna of semitropical character but the number of species composing the same (about 12 in Coleoptera) is so small that it is hardly worth while considering. Its northern extent is still uncer- tain but it is safe to say that on the eastern coast, it does not reach beyond Musquito Inlet at New Smyrna. — 172— smaller but always widely distant from each other and difficult to find in the high and dense shrubbery of the maritime flora. At Lake Worth, about lOO miles north of Cape Florida the semitropical forest attains a most unusual development extending for 8 or 9 miles on the narrow space between the lake and the sea. In their northward extent along the Indian River these semitropical thickets become smaller and scarcer, one species after another of the semitropical trees disappears and with their food-plants the semitropical insects become gradually scarcer in individuals as well as species. Before reaching Cape Canaveral this peculiar fauna and flora may be said to have disappeared. I desire to emphasize here once more as one of the principal characteristics of ttiis flora and fauna, that north of the Everglades they nowhere appear inland but always close to the shore. Even along the inner bank of the Indian River there are — or rather were — but a very few spots covered with semitropical forest, viz : on the mouth of the St. Lucie and Sebastian Rivers, at the southern end of Merritt's Island and perhaps some others ; but they are now mostly destroyed by cultivation. What I have hitherto said of the extent of the semuropical fauna refers only to the eastern and south-eastern coast of Florida. I know nothing from personal experience how far north this fauna extends on the western coast.* In fact the south-western part of Florida south of the Caloosahatchee River is at present the most unknown and least accessible portion of the whole United States and, entomolo.yically, still terra in- cognita. I rely here entirely on a statement by Prof. C. S. Sargent pub- lished in his "Report on the forests of North America"** and quote it herewith ; but I wish to say that long before I saw it I had worked out from my own experience and with the aid of Mr. Hubbard's notes the extent of the semitropical fauna and flora along the south-eastern coast. Says Prof. Sargent: "A group of arborescent species of West Indian origin occupies the narrow strip of coast and islands of Southern Florida. This belt of semitropical vegetation is confined to the immediate neigh- borhood of the coast and to occasional hammocks or islands of high ground situated in the savannahs which cover a great portion of Southern Florida, checking, by the nature of the soil and want of drainage, the spread of forest growth across the peninsula. This semitropical forest belt reaches Cape Malabar on the east, and the shores of Tampa Bay on the west coast, while some of its representatives extend fully two degrees * The distribution of semitropical insects on the western coast is facilitated by a counter current which, originating at Cape Florida, runs in a south-westerly direction between the Keys and the mainland to Cape Sable, thence northward along the coast. ** Tenth Census of the United States, Vol. IX, 1884, p. 6. — 1/3- farthcr noilli. Il is rich in cmiiposition ; nearly a (juarter of all the arborescent species (.jftlic Atlantic forest are found.within this insignificant region. " In these few wortls the extent of the semiiropical insect fauna is also sketched, but Prof Sargent omits to emphasize the island-like distribution of the semitropical forest which as a matter of course exists on the Keys but is maintained tliroughout on the mainland. This distribiinon of the semitropical fauna uhich surrounds, like a necklace of pearls by far the largest portion of the penincula of Floriila is certainlx- a mo'-t remarkable one, and lias, 1 think, no parallel in any odier Country oi ihe gkibe. Id a f)aper read at the March (iS88) meeting of the Kntomological Society of Washington, Mr. Uhler, while speaking on the Hemiptera col- lected l)y my>ell in souih-eastern Florida, stated that the present Hemip- terous fauna of Ntirih Auieiica IS largely derived from the neo-tropical fauna, ami that the comparatively few leally nearctic forms in Southern Floiida have a hard snuggle with the invaders from the South. His first assertion is undoubtedly correct and holds true also of the other Orders ofmsects; but ?*Ir. Uhler omits lo state that the immigration to which he refers and which shaped the character of the present fauna of the North American continent, took place at a very remote age, viz : at the end of the Ice period, long before ttiere existed a Southern Florida. The settle- ment of West Indian plants and insects which has been the subject of my communication is, geologically speaking, of quite recent date and, in fact, is still going on. This West Indian colony occupies, as we have seen, a very modest place in Florida and certainly does not infringe upon or contend with the continental foims. Some species have acquired, and some others no doubt will acquire the power to change their food-habits and extend their geographical range northward, but the majority will re- main confined to the isolated spots covered by the semitroi)ical forest and will never compete with the North American forms. Yes, this semi- tropical flora and fauna stands even in imminent danger of being con- siderably restricted by the agency of Man since the hammock land, on account of its rich soil, is rapidly brought under cultivation. Thus the once famous semitropical hammock of Lake Worth will have entirely dis- ap})eared ere long. During my stay on the shores of Biscayne Bay I witnessed myself the destruction by cultivation of some of the prettiest pieces of semitrop- ical hammock land, "and if on the island of Key West the building boom, which flourished at the time of my visit, holds on for only three or four years, not the slightest trace will then be left of the hammock, and the semitropical insect fauna of that island will be a thing of the past. Still, —174— there is no clanger that this niuna will become entirely extinct in Southern Florida, since many spots covered with semitropical forest are siiuaied in the most inhospitable and inaccessible parts of the country which will never have any attraction to the settler. One moie question remains to be briefly touched, viz : What shall we do with these colonies of semitropical insects in the south-western and south-eastern extremities of our country ? Shall we include them in the lists of North American insects or shall we exclude them therefrom? From the standpoint of systematic Entomoloi;)- it would no doubt be ad- vantageous to include as much as possible or the whole of the semitrop- ical faunas since the s\stematic position of many miw isolated species or genera or higher groups could then be established in a much tp.ore satis- factory way than it is possible from the study of the North American fauna alone. Some of our authors, dealing with whole Ortlers of insects, have indeed included this sen.itropical fauna, e. .^. Dr. Hagen in his Synopsis of the Neuroptera of North Anieric;i, Baron Osten-Sacken in his Catalogue of Diptera, and Mr. Uhler in his Check List of Hemiptera, These authors could do so, however, without much inconvenience since the material at their commantl from Central America and the West Indies was very limited as to the number of species. Iftlieyhad now the im- mense material from the continent of Central America that has been ac- cumulated by the entei prise and energy of the editors of the " Biologia Centrali-Americana" they would no longer include the Central American fauna into a Monograph or Catalogue of North American insects, for the the simple reason that the true North American fauna would then appear as an insignificant appendix to the much richer fauna of the Semitropics. The fauna of the West Indies is as yet but very imperfectly known ; but it is safe to say that, although poorer than the Central American fauna, the number of its species also exceeds that of the North American con- tinent. This inclusion would, in Coleoptera alone, involve the addition of at least 20,000 species. Our systematists would thus be utterly over- whelmed by this abundance of material, and, moreover, after this in- clusion we would be in the same trouble as before, since there is again no dividing line between the Central American faunas and the adjacent portions of the tropical fauna of South America. This inclusion is, there- fore, impracticable but so is also a wholesale exclusion, for the reason that the many semitropical species found along our south-western frontier and the few species that were hitherto known of the West Indian colony in Florida, have already been included into our own- fauna, and it would cause considerable confusion and inconvenience to exclude them again from our lists and synopses. Moreover, a portion of these species have —175— acquired a more or less wide distribution in our Southern States and could, therefore, be still less conveniently excluded. Thus some intermediate way must be found to deal with this semi- tropical colony. Mr. J. B, Smith, in a recent paper in the Entomologica Americana proposes to admit only such species as are found breeding within our territory and to reject all temporary visitors. This would ad- mit, so far as the Coleoptera are concerned, the whole fauna of the semi- tropical forest of Southern Florida which has been the subject of this communication. I am fully in accord with Mr. Smith though I can foresee that there will be considerable dissent among Entomologists, and especially Lepidopterists, whether certain species are to be considered as perinanenc residents or temporary visitors. Still I would like to add an- other restriction, viz : to exclude also all such species which add a strange or disturbing element into the classification of North American insects. Under disturbing elements I understand all such species or genera which in their characters contrast more or less strongly with those of the nearest North American species or genera and which would thus occupy a more or lei-s isolated position in our monographs and synopses.* Dr. Riley remarked that he thought there was little room for differ- ence of opinion regarding the exclusion of West Indian species from the Floridan fauna. We can no more exclude them from consideration than the ^Mexican species in Southern California. As we extend our realm we are obliged to recognize additional forms as connected with the fauna of the United States. The United States does not have a natural geograph- ical limit and embraces portions of different great faunal regions. Where the presence only of species has been recorded they should be included in our lists simply as visitors and when breeding here as residents. Mr. Fletcher asked what the object could be in excluding them. He thought the occurence of a species in our territoiy sufiicient reason to in- clude it in our faunal list. As information might be at any moment re- quired concerning its habits. There was no difficulty in indicating in such lists that it was an accidental visitor. Mr. Bethune cited cases in Canada, where some essentially Southern insects occur as Aletia argillacea, Erebus odora, Sphinx ello, etc. He * For the benefit of those who have the opportunity of studying the fauna of our south-western frontier I append here the following statement by Prof. C. S. Sargent (Report on the forest trees of N. A., p. 6), as it may help to throw some light on the distribution of Mexican forms in Western Texas : " The Mexican forest belt of Texas extends from the valley of the Colorado River, near the 98th msr'dian to the Rio Grande. It touches the coast not far from the Nueces River and extends to the eastern base of the mountain ranges west of the Pecos ; here the species of which it is com- posed mingle with those peculiar to the Pacific-Mexican forest." — 176 — ^""i would not omit them altogether but admit them as visitors. In the Florida fauna he thought it would be best to include all found there. '. He was of the opinion that any difficult}' might be obviated by writers of | Monographs stating on their title-pages that they treated of the insects J inhabiting the Northern temperate region of the U. S. rather than "the U. S. north of Mexico" as is now customary. i Mr, Howard believed it best to separate mere captures from faunal j| lists which should be based on residence of a species, and inquired how j such species could be a disturbing element in monographic works. \ Mr. Schwarz replied that they represent groups of genera or species > which have their nearest allies in the semitropics but not in our fauna. \ It is important to recognize them as belonging to a tropical fauna. Faunal i limits are often very sharply drawn and we should exercise more care in \ defining such limits. I Mr. Smith stated that he agreed in the main with I\Ir. Schwarz. j There is a difference in the semitrojiical and north temperate fauna?, some i small part of our fauna belongs to semitropical but nearly all to the North -r temperate. There is no distinction between the United Slates and Canada 1 but there is a very distinct difference between north temperate and semi- 1 tropical faunce. He would not exclude Mexican from American insects 1 when they belong to the north temperate fauna. He thought we should i define not the fauna of a political boundary but that of a zoological ) boundary. 5 Dr. Riley remarked that the trouble is there is no definite boundary. ; The people of this country desire to study insects occurring in the country, | no matter what their relationship outside. Include them in our faunal 1 studies but indicate their relations. In short, do with them as Mr. Schwarz \ has done in making a special study of iheir limits. . 1 Mr. Osborn remarked that species of one fauna so lap over into the j region of another that it is difficult to draw a line between zoological ;< regions. Intermediate forms may occupy nearly equal territory in con- -.. tiguous faunal regions. It is important that these intruding species -, should be included, jjcrhaps with special note, for the very purpose of ': indicating their extreme limits. Dr. Riley suggested the practical question, should a resident of Florida expect to find such species mentioned in a work on Florida in- ' sects or must h# search in foreign works for them. Dr. Peabody asked if the tropic of Cancer is a dead wall separating ^ north temperate from tropical forms. He believed fixed lines do not j exist in nature. I Mr. Smith said in certain species limitation is fixed by food-plant ■ and that may be fixed by temperature as a wall. J| —177— Mr. Fletcher remarked thai zoo-geographical lines are not strictlv drawn like territorial boundaries but that such papers as the one by Mr. Schwarz are great helps in defining their hmits. IMr. Howard slated that in the Coccidce a student would find re- presentatives of the Australasian, Asiatic and European faunoe as well as the American represented here. This is an extreme case, but can we omit such species from monographic works .' Dr. Riley considered that introduced species become fiimly establish- ed in our fauna and must be included in all monographic treatment. Mr. Smith said the CoccidiV follow their food-plants when introduced and as they become established must be considered as part of our native fauna. Mr. Westcott described a moth-trap by means of black-board figures and answered numerous questions as to its construction. The Club then proceeded to the election of Officers for ihe ensuing year which resulted as follows : President, James Fletcher, Ottawa, Canada ; Vice-President, L. O. Howard, Washmgion, D. C. ; Secretary. D. S. Kellicott, Columbus, Ohio. On motion the Club adjourned si?ie die. Herbfrt Osborx, Sccre/h points. C'olor vtilowish dorsally, l-rownish laterally; two conical processes e>n joint 2, one on joint 4. Head notcheti on to]), roughened. Color brown. A/ier 2nd moult.— Sun\\ar to the preceeding. The larva now feeds on the entire leaf, but when not feeding rests on the witheied portion A/ter jrd moult. — Color more even uniform brown but lighter dors- ally, ilie lateral color extending upwaid on joint 8. 1 he yellowish points are now very numerous. A//er 4th moult. — Similar, but nearly uniform biown, the head a little lighter and a narrow blackish dorsal line. Head surmounted by two conical processes, the process on joint 4 rather shorter in proportion than before, but the prolongation to the last segment one-third as long as the body. Body wrinkled as in the previous stages and rough. After this moult the larvae become lethargic and hybernate, resting on the stem of the plant. They spin a very slight web on the bark to which they cling. Their color closely resembles that of the bark. i\Ir. CJrote has given a description of the mature larva in Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XIX, p. 50. There are probably two broods of the insect in a season as the moths occur in June and August, but 1 have not found any larvaj of the first brood. Eood plants : Mburnum uni/olium and T. lentago. NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS. The next number, January, 18S9, will begin Vol. \, and the Volumes thereafter will correspond with the year. Vol. \' will be com- posed of 12 numbers for which the usual subscription price of $2.00 will be charged. Subscribers will ver}- much oblige the Society by a prompt remittance for the Volume to the treasurer, Chris. H. Roberts, II West 123rd Street, New York. INDEX TO AUTHORS AND SUBJECTS. Aaron. Eugene M. 1 Ifsperida?, determinatiun ot 142 Ashmead, Wm. H. l)e^cn■plions of Florida ('halcids 15 (lenera and species of Eurytominre 41 ClaM-ification of Hemiptera 6-5 Crineric Table of Chalcidina; 87 Synopsis of Cicadcea 140 Beutenmue'ler, Wm. N. A. Tiiieida- 21) Food -plants of Lepidoptera 7r> Bollman, Charles H. Li>t of Myriaporla ot Arkansas 1 Books received 59, 100. Brooklyn Ento. Soc. Reports of Meetings 59, 80 Bruce, David. Larva of Gnophela vermiculata 24 Butler. A. G. Note on Bolina fasciolaris 13 Casey, T. L. Thoroughness m Entomological Tables 18, 97. Crane, M. S. Note on Eut^onia alniaria 13 Dietz. Ottomar. Callida pur|)urea 23 Dury, Charles. Elaterida; of Cincinnati 163 Dyar, Harrison G. Dryopteryx rosea, larva 179 Edwards, Henry. Enproserpinus euterpe 25 Early stages of N. A. Moths (51 Notes on Lepidoptera 63 Entomological Club A. A. A. S. Report ot Proceedings 101, 125, 145, 165. Fernald, C. H. Monograph of Sphingidte, Notice of 177 N. A.>yralidre 37 Notes on CrambidK 44 The genus Diatrjea 119 The genus Schoenobius 135 Fernald, H. T. Erebus odora 36 Fletcher, James. Canadian collections 145 Type specimens 146 Collecting Expedition to North Lake Superior 159 Graef. Edw. L. Hyparpax aurostriata 58 Zeuzera pyrina 162 Grote, A. R. The genus Platythyris 73 Species of Boarmia 98 Cerathosia tricolor 121 Hagen, H. A. The genus Sympetrum 31 Hamilton, John. Thoroughness in Ento. Tables 78 Horn, Geo. H. Note on Chanopterus 48 Hubbard, H. G Amphicerus bicaiidatus 95 Hulst, Geo. D. Book Notices 38, 79, 99, 143, 160 Notes 45, 47, 48, 63, 64, 79, 85 Notes onGeometridse (No. 4) 49 Faunal limits of U. S. 70 Handling wasps without harm 86 New genera and species of Epipaschia; and Phycitidfe 113 Jiilich, Wm. Phlivophagus spadix 35 Kellicott, D. S. llepialus argentiomaculatus 153 Liebeck, Charles. Collecting Notes 74 Marx, George. A new Spider 160 Moeschler, H. B. A more wicked worm 34 Osborn, Herbert. Aleurodes 147 Pearsall, R. H. Scopelosoma moftatiana 59 Rivers, J. J. Aegeria impropria 99 Schaus, Wm., Jr. Larva of Phassus triangularis 64 Schwarz, E. A. Insect fauna of semitropical Florida 165 i INDEX TO AUTHORS AND SUBJECTS. Smith, John B. Introiluctioii to classification of N. A. L(.-pi(l()ptera 9, 27 A (lisclaiiner 14 ]!.)ok Notices 52, 56. 58 Notes 8fi. 9G. List ofSpiiiniiidL^of N. A. 89 Presidents Address, Ento. Club of A. A. A. S. 101 Cerathosia tricolor 122 Uhler. P. R. Cicadiea of U S. 21, 81. Washington Ento. See. Reports of meetings 20, 40, 60, 80 Weed, C. M. Parasites of Hemaris diffinis 147 Parasites of Phoxopteris comptana 149 Weeks, A. C. Acontia delecta 46 W^eeks, A. G., Jr. Collecting Notes 123 Westcott, O. S. Ento. Memoranda 154 Wright, W. G. Lyc;ena sonorensis .71 GENERAL INDEX. Acerata 65 Acidalia hepaticaria 49 Acontia delecta 46 Acrobasis albocapitella, ii. sp. 116 Acrolophiis mexicanella, n. t,p. 29 ^'Egeria impropria 99 ^geridiK, classification of 9 Agrotis, pupation of 154 Albuna 12 Alcathoe 11 Aletia argillacea 45 Aleurodes, wing origen 147 Altoona, n. gen. 116 " ardilerella, n. sp. 118 Aniphicerus bicaudatus 95 Anisopteiyx veinata 51 Anoristia olivella, n. sp. 117 Antepione imitata 49 Apanteles limenitidis 149 Apatela americana, food -plants, 75, 85 Aphycus chiysopa;, ii. sp. 15 " niger, n. sp. 15 " unicolor, n. sp. 15 Aplodes conitcraria 49 Bandc-ra cupidinclla, n. sp. 118 Bembecia 11 Bephrata 42, 43 Boarniia, species of 50, 98 Bolina cunearis 13 " fasciolaris 13 " nigrescens 13 " ochripennis 13 Botis plumbosignalis, n. sp. 37 Brooklyn Ento. Society, Union with Brooklyn Inst. 80 Bruchophagus, n. gen. 42, 43 Butteiflies, attracted to carrion 154, 157 Calera punctilimbella 100 Calledapteryx dryopterata 63 Callida purpurea 23 Callimorplia 14 Calothysanis aniaturaria 63 Calyria occidentis 82 Carmenta 12 " parvula 22 Cayuga, n. gen. 116 Cerata 65 Cerathosia tricolor 121, 122 Chalcidinfe, Generic table 87 Chalcids, from Florida 15 Chanopterus 48 Chilo decorellus 44 " plejadellus 45 Choreia flavicincta, n. sp. 17 Cicada rimosa 153 Cicadtea of U. S. 21, 81 117 121) Cicadidje, Genera of 140 Citheronia mexicana 62 Classification of N. A. Lepidoptera, Sesiida; 9, Thyrididse 27 Cleora pulchraria 50 Clisiocampa fragilis 62 Collections of insects in U. S. 105-129, in Canada 145 Collecting notes 74, 86, 96, 123, 153, 154, 163 Coloradia pandora 61 Comys cyanea, n. sp. 17 Cossus alni 153 Crambidiis, Notes on 44 Crambus decorellus 44 Craspedosoma flavidum, n. sp. 2 Creniaslus cookii, n. sp. 150 Cryptolechia concolorella, n. sp. 30 Cryptops hyahnus 5 Cry])torhync hus lupathi 24 Cydosia 61) Dasypyga carbonella, n. sp. Decatonia 42. 43 Diatrtea alleni, n. sp. 1'20 " dilTerentialis, n. sp. " Syfuipsis ot 119 Dinocarsis pulcher, n. sp. 17 Diplax 31 Diphryx 45 Diplodontia, n. gen. 87 Diviana eudoriella 100 Dolichorrhinia 100 Dryopteryx rosea, lai va 179 Eggs of butterflies, how ohlaii.ed loO Elateridre of Cincinnati 163 Empretia stiniulea, food plants 75, 85 Entomology and Ento. Collectiniij i U. S." 102 Entomology for beginners 164 EpipaschiiK, new species of 113 Erebus odora 36 Eubyia quernaria 50 " pienulataria 50 " cupidinaria 50 " mexicanaria 51 Eucyrtus pyralidis, n. sp. 15 Eudecatoma, n. gen. 42, 43 Eugonia alniaria 13 " magnaria 49 Euhagena 11 Euproserpinus euterpe, n. sp. 25 " phaeton 25 Eurytoma 42, 43 Eurytoniince, genera of 41 Eurytomocharis, n. gen. 42, 43 Evoxysoma, n. gen. 42, 43. Exelis pyrolaria 50 GENERAL INDEX. Falua 11 Fauna of Florida 20, 40, 60 Faiinal limi(s of U. S. 70 Fidicina 21 Florida, I^xpeiiment Station Report 79 Florida, Insect life of semitropical 165 Food plants of Lepidoptera 75 Frontaria viriiniicu-^is 3 Ga'leriida; of N. A. 38 Geometrida;, Notes on 49 Geophiliis okulonai, ii. sp. 5 Gluphisia tearlei (53 Gno|>liaela vermiculata, larva 24 Gracilaria nigristriella, n. sp. 30 " sanguinella, n. sp. 30 " shastella, n. sp. 30 " riiptistriirella, n. var. 30 Glypta phoxopteridis, n. sp. 151 Halesidola tessellata, food plants, 76 Harmonia 12 Hemaris diffinis, Parasites of 147 Heniiptera, Classification of 65 Hfnicops fulvicornis 7 Hepialiis argentiomaculatus 153 Hesjieridae, determination of 142 Heterogynidae, Classification of 28 " Note on 50 Heteroptera, Families of 67 Homoeosoma candidella, n. sp. 118 Homoptera, Families of 68 Honora iuscatella, n. sp. 118 " glaucatella, n. sp. 117 " obsipella. n. sp. 118 Hydrocampa propiialis, n. sp. 37 Ilyparpax aurostriata, n. sp. 50 Hy]:)ei-cliiria pamina 62 Hypocliilidae, n. fam. 161 Hypochilns, n. gen. 161 " thorellii, n. sp. 161 Ice worm 24 Insect fauna of semitropical Florida 165 Insect Life 143 Isosoma 42, 43 Isosomocharis, n. gen. 42, 43 Isosomodes, n. gen. 42, 43 Isosomorpha, n. gen. 42, 43 Katona, n. gen. 113 " euphemella. n. sp. 113 Lachnosterna fusca 154, 157 " gibbosa 154, 157 " species of 52 Larunda 11 Lepiodes interruptaria 49 Leptomastix tineaevora, n. sp. 16 Linotaenia bramneri, n. sp. 4 '• robusta, n. sp. 4 Lipocosma fuliginosalis, n. sp. 37 Lipagraphis decimerella, n. sp. 117 Lipographis niviella, n. Sp. 117 Lithobius celer, n. sp. 7 " oedipes, n. sp. 8 " pingiiis, n. sp. 7 Loma, n. gen. 114 " nephelotella, n. sp. 114 Lycaena sonorensis 71 Mecoceras peiiinsularis 50 •Melittia 11 Metadontia, n. gen. 87 Mira longipennis, n. sp. 17 Mona, n. gen. 115 " olbiella, n. sp. 116 Monograph of Sphingidre, Notice of 177 Myriopoda of Arkansas 1 Nebraska, Experiment Station Report 56 Nephopteryx filiolella, n. sp. 117 Oreaiia, n. gen. 115 Ortholophus variabilis 29 Penthetria, 28 Petaluma, n. gen. 114 Phaenodiscus armatus, n. sp. 17 Phassus triangularis 64 Phemenoe 11 Phigalia olivacearia 51 Phiiachyra 42, 43 Phlaeophagus apionides 35 " minor 35 " spadix 35 Phoxopterys comptana, parasites of 149 Phycitidae, new genera and species 114 of N. A. 38, 99 Pima, n. gen. 114 " fosterella, 11. sp. 114 Platypedia, n. gen. 23 " areolata 23 " minor, n. sp. 81 " putnami 23, 82 Platypsilla castoris 40 Platythyris 27, 73 Pleocoma 40 Podosesia 12 Poiydesmus minor, n. sp. 2 " pinetorum, n. sp. 3 Prionomastix americana, n. sp. 16 Proarna, species of 83 albida 83 " pulverea 8.3 " valvata, n. sp. 84 Pronuba 80 Prunasis venosa, n. sp. 82 Psecadia monticola 29 " obscurella, n. sp. 29 " subcaerulea 29 Pseudanapliora arcanella 29 Psilophrys armatus, ii. sp. l(') " pvilchripennis, n. sp. If'i Pyralidae, new, 37 Pyropliila pyramidoi les, food p'ani< ',7 Pyrrhotivnia 12 GENERAL INDEX. Ragonotia 100 Rhogas lunnipennis 148 Rileya, n. gen. 42, 43 " proposed genus 80 Saluda, n. gen. 113 Sannina 12 Saturnia galbina 61 Schoenobius, species of 135 " albocostelliis, n. var. 138 " clemensellus 138 " dispersellus 138 " longirostrellus 139 " meiinellus 137 " sordidelliis 136 " tripunctellus 136 " unipunctellus 13ti Sciapteron 11 Sciota, n. gen. 115 " croceella, n. sp. 115 Scopelosoma moftatii 59 Sesia 12 Sesiidae 9 Sphaeriodesmus piidicus, n. sp. 3 Sphingicampa 4-lineata 62 Sphingidae of N. A., List of 89 Sphinx elsa, larva 61 Spider, a new 160 " bites 40 Sympetrura 31 Synopsia pliigaliaria 50 Systole 42, 43 Systolodes, n. gen. 42, 43 Tacoma, n. gen. 115 Tacoma fenella, n. sp. 115 Tallula, n. gen. 115 Tehama, n. gen. 115 Tetralopha callipeplella, n. -p. 114 Tettigia 21 " hieroglyphic a 22 Thia 28 Thoroughness in entomological tables 18, 78, 97 Thrypidae, Habits of 152 Thyrididae 27 Thyris 27 Tinddae of N. A. 29 Tioga, n. gen. 113 " aplas-tella, n. sp. 113 Trochilium 11 Type, application of the word 146 Uinta, n. gen. 116 " oreadella, n. sp. 116 Wanda, n. gen. 114 " tiltella, n. sp. Wasps, Handling without haini 86 Welaka, n. gen. 116 White Mountain Lepidoptera 12:'. Winona, n. gen. 113 Xanthosoma, n. gen. 42, 43 Xyloborus 20 Zenodoxus 13 Zeuzera canadensis 162 " pyrina 162 Zophodia longipennella, n. sp. 118 AmerigAna PUBLISHED BY THE AT BROOKLYN, N. Y. VOL. v.— JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 18S!K EDITORS : Rev. Geo. D. Hulst, John B. Smith, asst editors : Chris. H. Roberts. Frank H. Chittenden. [Nos. 1 — 4.] [Nos. 5—12.] •H AmerieAna VOL V. BROOKLYN, JUNUfiRY, 1889. NO. 1, A GENERIC SYNOPSIS OF THE FULGORIDiE. By Wm. H. Ashmead. [Continued from page 141, Vol. IV.] Family II. FULGORIDiE. Head of various forms, often with a ceplialic prolongation and sometimes lumin- ous. The irons nearly always keeled. Ocelli 2, rarely 3 or wanting, placed beneath the eyes or sunken in the cheeks close to the eye, the third ocellus, when present, placed in the middle of the frons. Antennae always beneath the eye, usually large, distinct, the joints of which are frequently long and dilated, sometimes with an ap- pendage. Thorax weak, usually keeled ; scutellum small. Wings usually long and strongly veined, often short but rarely entirely wanting. Tegulse most frequently present. Anterior coxae generally elongated ; posterior coxre transverse, contiguous, extending from the sides of the body. Tibiae prismatic or foliaceous. Tarsi 3-jointed, generally spined. This is one of the most extensive of the homopterous families, well represented in North America, and comprises some of the most curious and interesting forms to be found among insects. The family may be divided into ten subfamilies, recognizable by the aid of the following table : TABLE OF SUBFAMILIES. Wings when at rest not lying perpendicular in repose 2. Wings when at rest lying perpendicular in repose. External border of elytra without transverse, parallel nervures Subfamily I. ACANONIINiE. External border of elytra with transverse, parallel nervures. Vertex not -leparated from the frons by a transverse keel, or greatly prolonged into a point beyond the eyes ; clavus at apex usually obtuse and usually confounded with the corium Subfamily II. FLATIN^E. Vertex very short, front part narrow or generally rounded before the eyes, separated from the frons by a transverse keel ; clavus at a|)ex acute, distinct Subfamily III. RICANIIN^E. 2 Frons separated from the clieeks liy a sharp maro-celes triangle ; fr>jns trape/oidal : eyes oval G. 24. Trigonocranus, Fieber. S Vertex very short, gradually rounded off Into the frons ; clavus long, acute, reach- ing nearly to apex of wings with one longitudinal vein and transverse veins ; wings large, roundedly truncate behind G. 25. Amphiscepa, Germar. Subfamily 111. RICANIINiE. TABLE OF GENERA. Frons with one or three keels or keels wanting 2. Frons with two distinct keels, slightly converging toward apex, much longer than broad ; vertex before the eyes distinctly prominent; lateral margins of clypeus only keeled at base. Wings as broad as long, broadly rounded at apex, with a contiguous series of transverse veins between the apex of clavus and the transverse vein of costal area, the costal area of normal breadth ; the interior vein of the coi ium forked belore the middle. Wings vitreous ; posterior tibiaj with three spines G. i. Miriza, Stal. Wings opaque ; posterior tibia; with four spines G. 2. Mindura, Stiil. 2 Lateial margins of clypeus keeled 5- Lateral margins of clypeus not keeled. Wings much enlarged toward apex 4- Wings not much enlarged toward apex. Wings as broad as long, with a regular series of transverse veins towards apex; posterior tibife with two spines behind the middle.. .G. 3. Pricesa, Stal. Wings toward apex very gradually enlarged ; posterior tibire with three spines behind the middle G. 4. Ricania, Germar. 3 Marginal area with very narrow transverse veins 4- Marginal area with normal transverse veins. Longitudinal veins of wings much forked, with two regular series of tran>verse veins toward apex, joining the apical G. 5. Porchazia, A. et S. Longitudinal veins of wings rarely forked, witli twt) series of irregular transverse veins, remote G. 6. Tarundia, Sial. 4 Longitudinal veins rarely emitting a forked vein from base of areole, the fis: forkrd before the base ; transverse veins very rare G. 7. Armacia, .Stiil. 5 Wings nearly two and a half times longer than broad, apex subtruncate ; marginal area with narrow transverse veins ; frons as broad as long G. 8. Bladina, Stal. Wings circular, half as long as broad, apex broadly rounded ; marginal area with broad tran>verse veins. Wings vitreous, transverse veins remote G. 9. Nagodina, Still. W'ngs opaque, transverse veins very numerous G. 10. Vutina, Stal. — 5— SOHKAMIl.V IV. ISSINiE. TABLE OF GENERA. Wings much shortened, not reaching the tip of abdomen, or rudimentary ; the head prod need 4- Wings not unusually shortened, complete. Head produced 3. Head truncated, before the eyes not or scarcely prominent ; wings strongly de- cmubent. Posterior \.\\nx with three spines 2. Posterior tibiie wiih two spines. Costa bffore the middle or anteriorly beneath, very distinctly dilated ; interior ulnar vein simple, exterior ulnar vein and the radial vein near the base, torked ; verte.x smooth. . . G. i. Hysteropterum, A. et S. Costa simple beneath towards the base, excepting a very obsolete dilation ; wings behind the apex of the clavus oblique, very obtusely rounded, the interior ulnar vein nearly simple ; first joint of posterior tarsi short . . . G. 2. Falcidius, Sliil. Thorax at base slightly and broadly sinuated. Wings vitieous, regularly reticulated, obtusely rounded at apex ; costa dilated, membiane of costa with transverse veins, ulnar vein in the middle of wing, forked G. 3. Neaethus, Stal. Wings at apex very slightly deeply angulately emarginated or incised, and riUtly with transverse veins, not reticulated ; the vein of the anal area forked : anterior femora simple, sul)Compressed G. 4. Thionia, S'al. Wings at apex entiie ; frons and clypeus lying nearly in the same plane, the frons somewhat reclining and slightly rtflexed G. 5. Issus, Fabr. 2 Vertex very short, sublunate, anterior margin strongly carinated ; frons rounded, prominent, the cential plate almost circular, flattened and very much raised" above the surrounding area, exterior margins strongly carinate, curving con- foi-mable with the central plate. Pronotum longer than the vertex, lunate, bluntly curved on anterior margin, po>terior margin deeply sinuated. Hem- elytra long and narrow, a little obliquely rounded at tip, costal and sutural mar!.;ins nearly straight G. 6. Aphelonema, Uhler. Vertex suliquadrate, deeply scooped out, anterior angles rectan_^ular with bound- ing keels high, anterior mari^in arched in the centre ; frons longer than wide, sides convexly curved, middle keel extends 2 1/3 its leiiL;th downwards. Pron- otum acutely triangiila'-, exiending forward almost to front line of eyes, deeply emarginaied behind. Hemelyira long and narrow, vitieous, hispid, regularly parabolic on the costal margin, from the base to the inner apical angle, the inner margin straight ; field with a net work of large rounded aieoles; costal area obliterated ... ... G. 7. Dictyonissus, Uhler. Abdomen distinctly compressed ; costa remote from the margin ; anterior tibiai longer thin the fenioi a and trochanters togeiher . G. 8. Tylana, Stal. 3 Costa occupying the same margin, beneath anteri(jrly or before the middle, dilated; po t -rior tibin? wi h one >pine ... G. 9. Mycterodus, Spinola. 4 Wings tailed, apical angle of tli'- commissural produced, slightly curving upwards; clavus not attaining the apex of the wing. Costa dilated, remote from the margin, dilated part with transverse veins, not inflexed ; po-terior tibiae with two spines G. 10. Conosimus, Mulsant. —6— Vertex before the eyes, produced. Wings very much shortened, truncated ; frontal disk largely elevated ; thorax anteriorly produced beyond the middle of the eyes G. II. Peltonotus, Mulsant. Wings oblong, apex extending somewhat beyond the abdomen ; frontal disk not or very slightly elevated ; thorax produced to the middle of the eyes G. 12. Ommatiotus, Spinola. Vertex before the eyes, not prominent ; body cylindrical ; wings much shorter than abdomen. Frons and vertex formmg an obtuse angle, very gradually produced towards apex ; clypeus large, towards the horizontal portion largely inflexed G. 13. Bruchomorpha, Newman. P'rons prolonged, globularly enlarged at apex (j. 14. Naso, Pitch. Subfamily V. CALOSCELINiE. TABLE OF GENERA. Posterior tibice with more than three spines, multispinous 2- Posterior tibia? with not more than three spines. Anterior legs strongly dilated, foliaceous. Posterior tibiae with one spine G. i. Caloscelis, Lapoite. Posterior tibiie with three spines. Lateral margins of vertex dilated, elevated G. 2. Elasmoscelis, Spinola. Lateral margins of vertex not dilated, not elevated G. 3. Lacusa, Stal. Anterior femora and tibise somewhat dilated. Head before the eyes promuient ; frons elevated, compressed ; posterior tibite with two spines G. 4. Lophops, Spinola. Clypeus much longer than its breadth at base ; legs long or somewhat lengthened. Head with a very distinct callosity behind the eyes ; anterior femora and tibite slightly compressed, dilated G. 5. Almana, Stal. Head without or scarcely with a callosity behind the eyes ; anterior leniora alone compressed, body bioadly oval ; head somewhat triangularly produced. . . . G. 6. Orgerius, Stal. Clypeus a little longer than its breadth at base, legs short, anterior ie^is com- pressed ' C. 7. Risius, Stal. [TO BE CONTINUED.] Change of Name. In Proc. Cal. Acad., 2nd Series, Vol. i, issued June 5th, 1888, I described a new genus and species of N. A. Scarabaeidse under the name oi Anoplognatho Dun7tia7ius but now finding tliis to be already in use I desire to substitute that oi Aphonides Dunniana. J. J. Rivers. University of California, Oct. 2J, 1888. — 7— A New Species of Euphanessa. By Annie Trumuull ^losson. Euphanessa meridiana, ii. sp. I have been familiar for two or three years, in South Florida, with the insect to which I give the above name. 1 thought, at first, that it might be merely a southern variety of E. mendica, Walk , but am now confident, afier careful study and comparison, that it is a different species. It is uniformly smaller than mendica, none of my specimens exceeding .9 inch in expanse. The anterior wings are longer and narrower pro- portionately than in mendica, outer margin more oblique, and they are of a dee[)er ochreous tint, sometmies almost orange. The two rows of dusky, semi-transparent spots are quite difierent in appearance and ar- rangement. The outer row is composed of very small separate spots, which never coalesce ; it is a mere dotted line, very regular in its course, w ith none of the blotchy unevenness of the same line in mendica. The inner row has only three spots, a large one in discal cell, and two much smaller, which are nearer the base and inner margin. Secondaries con- colorous and immaculate. My description is comparative, rather than scientific, but will, I think, serve to identify the insect for all who know our common northern species. I have found this moth at Charlotte Harbor, Tampa, and Winter Park, but no farther north. I know nothing as vet of the larva. Note on Zeuzera pyrina. By a. R. Grote. In reference to Mr. Graef's interesting article (Ento. Americana, Vol. IV, p. 162) I would state that I did not include Zeuzera crsculi (pyrina) in my list, because I believed its occurence to be quite accidental. I believe cesculi and pyrina to be synonyms for the European species. With regard to canadensis, I do not think, from Herrich- Schiififer's figure, that it is a Zeuzera ; certainly it is not cescuH. I have never seen the species. It is not yet certain that cesculi breeds in North America. The sjiecimens observed may have been imported, as larvae or pupae, in wood. If it were indigenous to North America it would surely have been taken before this; the fact, that in Morris' Synopsis, pyrina is credited to North America, is probably due to an original mis- take in the habitat. I have alluded elsewhere to the chance finding of a specimen o'i cbscuUxw Hoboken and I thought at the time, that it must have been imported, either purposely or accidentally. The question is now, whether cesculi breeds with us, as for instance the Asiatic PhUosamia cynthia does. Whichever way this question is answered 1 am disposed to believe that its occurrence in North America originally will be found to be due to a comparatively recent importation. Editor of Entomologica Americana. Dear Sir : — After a knowledge of Mr. Grote's criticisms of my lo- cation of my genus Cera/hosia, in Ento. Am., and afterwards in the Can. Ento. , I sent a specimen of the species to Mr. H. B. Moeschler, the well- known European Lepidopterist, requesting him to give me, for publica- tion, his opmion of the family location of the genus. Mr. Moeschler wriies me under date Sept. 28th, — "To-day I received the parcel con- taining the two moths. I have examined them and, there is no doubt, you are right ; this species belongs to the ArctiidtB, as llie costal nervule is not derived from the base of the hind wings, but from the discoidal cell; this characteristic separating the Arctiidce -Awdi. Lithosiidce from the Noctuidce, which have this nervule derived from the base of the wing, only a little connected wuh the fore edge of the cell. I do not doubt this species is an Arctiid nearly allied to Deiopeia and Emydia." Under date Sept. 3cth, Mr. Moeschler again wrote me: — "I re- ceived Ento. Americana, No. 6, to-day, and it was with great interest I read yours and Mr. Grote's paper on Cerathosia tricolor, Sin. If Mr. Grote had looked into ' Lederer's Noctuinen Europa's,' he could read, page 2, 'sie {d^\Q. Noctidnen) unterscheiden sich von den Liihosiden (\\\c\. No/a, Sarro/hn'fa und Ayc/eoli,) und Arc/iiden durcti die bei diesen aus der Mitte oder Ys des Vorderrandes der Mittelzelle entspringenden Rippe 8 der Hinterfliigel.' Mr. Grote would have spared much effort to prove something not existing, by reasons which are not of any value, if lie had remembered the only important characteristic separating the Li/hosiidcB and ArctiidiF from the Kociiiidce. 1 am much surprised that so distingu sii- ed a writer as Mr. Grote, could omit so important a characteristic, but — the systematic position of the genera of the so-called Zyganidce in h:s New Check List, is sufficient to prove, that Mr. Grote's >ystematic views are sometimes more than singular 1"— Seeing the specimens of C. tricolor, my first thought was, that it is a genus very closely allied to Deiof)eia (Utetheisa) and Emydia, and I shciuld have bten much surprised if an exact examination had given another result." So far as I am concerned, this closes the matter, eNce[)t for the paper now in the hands of the printer, for the Proc. U. S. National Museum. Washington, D. C, Oct. 18, 1S8S. John B. Smith. — 9— ON NORTH AMERICAN TINEIDiE. By VVm. Beutenmullek. Tinea seminolella. n. sp. Head, thorax anti palpi, deep fuscous. Primaiies, fu>LOus, covered will) deep fuscous scales, without any markings, except an indistinct i)iackish discal spot with v. paler margin. Legs, body, secondaries and wings beneath, fuscous. Expanse, 17 niiii. I 9. Coll. W. B. Hah.— Central Horida. Acrolophus plumifrontellus, Clem. The undescribcd (j:' of this species differs from tlie r-/ only in iiaving long por- rected labial palpi, and the markings of the prmiaries much suffused with the ground color. Expanse. 19 mm. Length of palpi, 5 mm. I example. Coll. W. B Taken at PaikviUe, L. I., N. Y. , July, 1888. Another specimen, much larger than the one I possess, is in the collection of Mrs. A. T. Slosson, taken in the White Mountains, N. H. Psecadia albicostella, n. sp. Head white, with a black spot on the vertex ; palpi black, second and third joints tipped with white, thorax ochreous fuscous with two black spots, one on each side about the middle ; teguli^ tipped with white. Body ochreous, tuft orange yellow. Primaries ochreous fuscous with a median, scaly, white basal streak, running to the apical third. Beyond this streak is a small black spot and one at the basal third of the wing below the fold. Extreme costa and cilia white. Before the apex on the costa are four small black spots and seven on the margin. Secondaries and under;>'de of wings, ochreous fuscous. Expanse, 22 mm. I J^. Coll. W. B. Hab.— Colorado. Psecadia walsinghamella, n. sp. Head white ; palpi white ; first and second joint with a black ring at the base ; thiid with a black ring before the tip. Antennie fuscous. Thorax white with four black spots. Body and legs ochreous. Primaries pure white, shining, with a number of black spots and four long black streaks ; one at the base below the costa ; one a little below and beyond ; one in the cell, and one above and beyond nearly reaching the outer margin about the middle ; at the end of the discal cell a small black spot and one below and beyond ; below the fold are three spots ; one about the basal fourth ; one before the middle and one below and between the two. ; on the fold at the base of the wing a small spot. Above the long streaks through the middle of the wing beyond the basal one are a number of black subcostal spots, and on the costa before the apex a series of small spots running along the margin to the inner angle. Cilia white. Primaries beneath, fuscous, shining. Expanse, 21 mm. I (^. Coll. W. B. Hab.— West Virginia. Named in honor of Lord Walsingham, who has contributed much to the knowledge of American Tineida;. lO Psecadia semilugens, Z-ll., r'n?-. plumbeella, n. var. Tiiis lonii can l>e disiinguished from tlic type by the lead colored secondaries and dor-'-ai lialf of the primaries. Expanse, 20 mm. I J. Coll. W. B. ' Hab. -Texas. Depressaria curvilineella, n. sp. Head white, thorax and le^s grayish ojhreoiis. Primaries gray, thickly clouded with grayish ochreoiis scales, e.-pecially at the base beyond the pale basal field which extends to the costal third ; on the disk before the middle of the wing is a curved black stieak and a little beyontl a small white spot edged with black ; costa sprinkled whh fuscous scales. Cilia grayisii ochreous. Secondaries gray fuscous ; cilia white. Underside of prim.iiics fusions ; costa and cilia white. Secondaries paler than above with loui- apieal black s])ot,^. Ex|-)an>e, 18 mm. I example Coll. \V. B. Hab. — New York. Graci aria fuscoochrella, n. ^p. Head and palpi ochl■eou^ ; k-gs o.hreous annulated with fuscous ; thorax and antennse iuscous. Primaries and secondaiies fuscous, as also the underside of all the wings. Exjianse, 14 mm. I example. Coll. W. B. Hab. — California. Cosmopteryx floridanella, n. s|>. Head olive iucwn wiili three fine white stripes ; one on the middle and one on each side behnul the eyes. These stripes are continuous with the three on the thorax whi h i-^ also olive brown. Face' silvery oclireou-;, as are also the palpi, underside of thorax and body; legs nniuilated wilh brown. Body above olive brown, in some lights yellowish oehreous. Piimaries olive brown with three silvery white l)asal streaks : one on the suliC(»ta, one on ihe dorsal margin and one above the fold ; ali running to about the ba-al third. Hftween the two latter streaks is another, beginning abo it the basal lonrlh and reaching the broad, pale yellow tran-verse patch beyond the middle of ihe wing ; at the internal ]->orti()n of th.- band below the cosia is a snail black margined meiallic silvery spot and a larger one below and beyond ; the external niaii:iii ot the band is limited by a narrow tran-verse metallic silvery band, about the middle ol which commences a narrow white streak running to the extreme apex ot the winu'. Secondaries grayi-h. Cilia olivaceous, as is also the underside of ihe wings. Expanse, g mm. I 9. Coll. W. B. Hab.— Central Florida, May, 1887. Cosmopteryx minutella, n. sp. Head deep brown with three fine vvhite stripes ; (scales abraded on the tlio-ax); palpi white wilh a few brown scales ; legs oehreous annulated with brown. Primaries deep brown with two fine white basal streaks ; one running along the costa for a ^h )rt distance, then gradually bending downward and running along the subcosta to about ihe basal third ; the second streak runs along the fold to nearly the middle of the wing ; a third white streak begins below the fold about the basal third and bejonies orange yellow as it reaches the very broad transverse band of the same hue ; on the internal margin of the band are two violet-hued silvery s])Ots ; the one below the costa is limited by a conspicuous black discal spot ; before the external margin of tlie band which is prolonged into an angk% is a co>tal and dorsal, violet-hued bilvery sp:)t; beginning at the a.ngle of the band is a fine white stripe reaching the extreme apex of the wing. Secondaries ami wings beneath fuscous. Expanse,_7 mm. 1(5^. Coll. W. B. Hab.— Central Florida. Some Studies of the Development of Lixus concavus, Say, and L. macer, Leconle. By F. M. Wkbster. Concernino; the hal)its and transformations of the twenty-five species of the genus Z/a-«5, inliabiting North America, North of Mexico, very little appears to have been learned ; the hmited information we possess relating exclusively to but three species. From the fact that adults o[ Lixus rubellus, Rand, have, on two oc- casions, been observed in considerable numbers clinging to the blossoms anil leaves of an aquatic p'ant, Pulvjs^onuin amphibium, this insect is sus- pected of infesting that plant, the theory being strengthened somewhat by the fact thit Z. parapleclicus, an European species, breeds in the stems of .S'/«/«, or Water Parsnip. (Rep't Com. Agr., 1870, p. 71.) The larva:? of another European s[)ecies, L. angusta/us, is said to mine in the stalks of beans. Lixus pivciis, a native of California, is said by Prof Riley to form galls in the stems of J;«^/<;z;zc,^?'i?/'. ( Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., Vol. I, p. 2,2)) A single short notice, printed in 1866, by Mr. Townend Glover, contains all the published information we have respectmg the life-history o^ concavus. Mr. Glover states that he observed the female beede '"bur" rowing into the foot-stalks of rhubarb, or pie-plant, and there depositing a single egg in each hole." The ol)server failed to rear the young, how- ever, as the htter died in a few davs, as soon as the stalks became with- ered. (Rep't Com. Agr., 1865, p. 90.) Of the early stages of ;/W(:6?/", we likewise have but little published information. Prof Riley reared it in 1872 from Chenopodium hybridum, but the girdling habit of the larvai was not observed by him. (Loc. Cit. ) Mr, D. W. Coquillett, in a short article published in 18S3, (Can. Ent., Vol. XV, p. 113), states that on July 13th, i88r, near Wood>tock, Mc- Heary Countv, Illinois, he observed a fe iiale of this species busily engag- e 1 in giawing holes in the stems of a green Helianfhus grosseserratus, or Wild San-flower. There were several holes in the stem, and in each he found, one or two ej[g-;, of an elliptic ovoid form, polished, pale yellow, an 1 measuring about two and one-fourth mm. in length. In the stems of other similar weeds growinj; near by, he found several recently hatched larvae. Stems of the sime species of weed were examined during the Summer, and larvje in different stages of their growth were observed- Sometimes two or three in the sime plant. Late in (Jctober, pieces of these stems, from one and a half to three feet long, were found lying about on the ground, evidently having been gnawed off from within, excepting the thin, outer bark, which had apparently lieen broken by the wind. These pieces coniained a larva, evidently of the same species as those previoLislv observed ; and similar larvte, but no pupa?, were observed in the prostrate stems, on the 25th of the followin--; April. From these ob- servaticMis, Mr. Coquillett opmed that the beetles deposited their eggs in mid summer ; the hivvat;, hatching in a few days, reached tlieir full growth in three or four months, and, hibernating in the stems in that stage, chang- ed to pupa? early the following Summer, emerging as adults soon after. At the time Mr. Coquillett was making these observations, we, in an adjoining County of the same State, were similarly engaged, although as Ignorant of his studies as he was of ours. However, with the exception of securing more facts relative to the mode of oviposition, and the number of eggs, and the grouping o( the egg chambers, we did not materially im- prove upon his observations, as afterwards published. In Northern Illinois, where we always found 7nacer to be the hiost common species of Z/av/.s. co;/C(ro«.s seldom occu red in our collections. In Central Illinois, in 1882 and 1883, we found the latter to be the more abundant species, while the former was seldom observed. We were more surprised to here observe concavus ovipositing in the stems of Helian/hus, exactlv as we had observed its congener do in the Northern part of the Slate. The female, of either species, in depositing her eggs, first places her- self, head downward, upon the sialk in which she intends to oviposit, and, wuliout moving the feet, commences a series of l>ackward and for- ward movements of the rostrum, gouging out a narrow channel, varying from three-fourths to about an inch in length, penetrating through the woodv portion of the siem to the pith. This channel is not clean cut, but is, when finished, filled with matted fibre, not detached and not easily removed. From near the upper end of this channel, the female next ex- cavates a burrow, of the diameter of her rostrum, directly into the pith, for a considerable distance; thence upward as far as she can reach. While we have never observed the sexes in coi/u, nor the placing of the egg, the male is almost invariably present in situ, and we have often interrupted the female in the midst of her work, and found an egg partly in place in the stem. These observations leave little room for doubt that the eggs are fecundated just prior to the act of oviposition, and dropped bv the female at the mouth of the burrow, being afterwards pushed in place by aid of her rostrum. Wherever there was good evidence of the nidus having been com- pleted, we have always found a second chamber or burrow, at the lower extremitv of the channel also, but not extending far enough upward to come in contact with the upper. In each of these chambers we have —13— al\va\s fouiul two eiigs ; i,hc first at the upper extremity, and fastened by some adhesive substance on the egg itself. Back of this egg, a piece of pith seems to be shoved in, to aid in holding it in place, and to hold it from the second egg, which is jtlaced directly behind this, and frequently, but not always, a piece of pith is placed behind the latter also. While it might be too much to say that the invariable number of eggs is two, in each chaml^er, and that there are always two chambers connected with each channel, with a single exception we have found this to be the case. In the exce[>tional case, there was a channel fully twice the ordinary length, and four chambers connected with it ; the second and third, how- ever, being much more distantly placed than the first from the second, or the third from the fourth. Just why si> much method should be followed m this arrangement, it is difficult to understand. Possibly the female ' ma\- comprehend that were she to place herself in a reverse position on the plant, the chambers wc)uld extend downward and a drop of water or dew. on its wav downward on the outside of the stem, might penetrate the latter and destrt)y the eggs, the young larva;, or even the entire plant. As it is, the chamber extends upward, and, besides, the gum, which exudes h-oin the plant, collects in the mass of fibres in the channel, and as this gum hardens it tends to seal the whole entrance. The secret of the number of egg chambers, per each channel, may lie in that the latter is as long as the female can make it without changing her position, as, w'th the weight of the male adtled to her own, moving about would prove too laborious. With two eg,e folds on each, the latter being placed anteriorly. 'The eleventh segment has but one wriidde, and the twelfth none at all. The first segment is larger than the head, with light brown patch resembling a cervical shieUI, which is dividetl by a median, lineal white line, and, bearing on front and posterior margins, a transverse row ol short bri>tlts. There is also a cluster of four bristles at each end of the cervical shield, and Itetweeii it and the spiracle ; on the second fold are two, small, light brown patches, divided by a dorsal, white line, each patch bearing a sin.i^le l)ri>tle. Tlie second segment has also a transverse row of bristles, and besides there is also one placed singly on each side of a slight, medial depression. Seg- ments three to eighth with similar row of small bristles only, the ninth having a single bristle on each side of the fold near the ndddle of the back. The tenth segment has a row of larger bristles, ami two on each side of fold. On the eleventh, the bristles are still longer, and inclinul to form clusters at the sides, near the s])iracles. On twelfth segment, the bristles form a semi-circular clus er. On each segment, except the second and twelfth, is a double row ol obtuse, \elIowish pustules, placed just below the spiracles, each bearing a few, short, scattering bristles. Between these rows of pustules is a deep, lateral groove, and, where this crosses the segmental wrinkle, a deep, quadrangular fossa is produced. Beneath, the feet are wanting, and their place supplied by pust- —15— ules, upon each of which are eighth ambulator}' setce, one of the luiinher being somewhat isolated and near the middle of the segment. ( )n all twelve segments are four, short seti^, placed in pairs each side of tlie middle ; those cm the thoracic segments being between the isolated setce, just indicated. The pupiv average i6 mm. in length. In the female, the rostrum reaches considerably beyond the base of anterior femora, while in the male it extends very little beyond. On the rostrum, head and thorax are a few, sparsely j)Iaced bristles. Beneath, the nine segments are smooth, distinctly separated, and with a few short bristles. Above, the first segment is smooth, with ex- ception of the scutellar lurbucle; the second is smooth, but on the third, fourth and fifth, each, is a transverse row of fleshy spines, ending with chitinous points, and placed near the posterior margins of the seg- ments. On the sixth, the s[)ines are larger and almost dactyliform, being placed on a transverse, fleshy ridge. On the seventh segment, this ridge assumes a comb-like appearance, and is divided at middle, and on each of the parts thus constituted are five fleshy spines, all much larger and longer than any on the preceeding segments. The eighth segment is nearly vertical, unarmed, but slightly wrinkled and con- spicuously setigerous. The ninth segment is nearly horizontal btlow and opixisite the eighth, or curled under, as it may be called. This is armed with two, widely se])arated proleg-like appendages, each ter- minating in a stout, chitinous hook, with the point turned directly backward. Abdomen, slightly bioadest at third and fourth segments. The spines above describetl are doubtless to enable the pupa to fuish itself into a positicjn favorable to the escape of the adult, which, within the stems of the plants, must be well nigh helpless. When full grown, the larvx" girdle the stems from within, at ir- regular intervals, much as does the larva:; of Elaphidion within the twigs of oak, hickoi}- and other trees, except that only the thin outer bark is left intact, to be broken ofl" by the winds ; the object being to give the larva time to witlidraw into its burrow and plug up the open- ing. In proof of this the ends of the stems are filled with fibrous matter, taken from within the stem. Doubtless this girdling is done during a calm time, else the wind would surprise the larva with its work but half finished, but how it obtains a knowledge of the state of the weather outside, is a pr(»blem. Notwithstanding all their precautions in filling the cavities at the ends of the stems, they are far from safe in their woody abodes, as, while j)rotecting them from enemies of their own kind, even the thick — 16— walls are no protection from the cruel beak of the wood-pecker, and hundreds of these larvae are dragged from their Winter-quarters to satisfy the insatiable greed of these birds. The stems of the plant are not girdled by the larvie until the former are quite dead, and hence, the plant is not materially affected, and sections are not to be found scattered about on the ground much before October. As a rule, concavus, and probably macer also, hibernate in the larval stage, but the former, at least, sometimes live over in the adult stage, as we have elsewhere shown to be true of another species of Curctilionidce (Rep't Com. Agr. , 1886,), whose transformations are cpiite similar in point of time. I have found adults of concavus, on December 4th, and again in April of the following year, while in May I. could find only larvae. I have found healthy larvae in stems dug out of ice and frozen snow in January, and found them during the four months following, but have never been able to ascertain the time re- (juired in which to pass the pupae stage, or the exact season during which this takes place, but opine that it will prove to be late m May and dur- ing June. My examples of the pupae were from stems containing larvae, kept in-doors. These transformed in January, and the pupae ])eriod occupied only a few days. I have found larva; only in Helianihus and have repeatedly ob- served the adults feeding upon the foliage. In a single instance I ob- served a female ovipositing in Si/phium, or Rosin weed, and it is quite probable that they may be found in the stems of other, similar plants, besides Chcnopodiutn, as observed by Prof Riley. I have not studied the larvae of viacer enough to find a ready distinction between them and concavus. They are usually more slender and less wrinkled, but it is doubtful if this holds true in all classes. The pupae are more slender, and the rostrum and ante