The Insect Powders of commerce are the powdered flowers of different species of Pyrethrum. Those of Pyrethrum carneum and roseum were introduced some thirty years ago under the name of Persian Insect Powder, and subsequently those of Pyrethrum cinerariæ folium, a native of Dalmatia, Austria, as Dalmatian Insect Powder.

In the summer of 1877, my attention was called to some “worms” which had been discovered in the heads of red clover (Trifolium pratense), and were said to be preying upon the seeds. They were found to be minute maggot-like creatures, hidden within the seed-pods and entirely destroying the seeds which they attacked.

Arctia rectilinea, n. sp.

Average length, ♂, .50; ♀, .55 of an inch. Expanse of wings, ♂, 1.30; ♀, 1.50 inches. Head reddish flesh color, or in some lighter; eyes and palpi black ; antennæ dark brown or brown black.

During the season of 1878 I have found at this place, situated within two miles of the limits of Boston, some species of butterflies which are seldom found in this vicinity. On the 8th of October I obtained a nice specimen of C. eurytheme, which had probably left the chrysalis but a short time before.

In a former article in the Canadian Entomologist I mentioned a large capture of the above moth in July, 1876 and '77. At the first I ran out of pins, and so had recourse to the time-honored practice of squeezing—when, lo! out of the hind segments there issued two plumes over an inch long and less than one-sixteenth in diameter, so light that the least breath of air fluttered them from side to side.

Argynnis Laura.

Male.–Expands 2.2 inch.

Upper side deep red-fulvous, obscured at base of primaries and still more at base of secondaries, the ground there being black with a slight dusting of fulvous ; the black markings as in the allied species, rather heavy, while the nervules of primaries, especially the discoidal, and the branches of median,–and on secondaries the branches of sub-costal, are widely bordered with black; the mesial band of secondaries confluent; fringes yellow-buff, black at the ends of the nervules.

Agrotis vocalis, n. s.

♂ ♀. This species seems allied to albalis and lagena. The hind wings are whitish; the fore wings are mixed gray, black and white. The lines are black, thick, single, dentate, the subterminal obsolete. A slight black basal submedian streak.

This species first came under my notice four years ago. I have met with it every year since, have raised it from the larva, and have taken the perfect insect at Honeysuckle. I find a drawing of S. eremitus in No. 13 of Strecker's Work on the Lepidoptera, and an account of the larva written by Prof. Snow, of Kansas.

From Mr. L. Heiligbrodt I have received a specimen of X. purpurea, and it agrees in all respects with the female of micans. Accompanying this was a male, evidently of the same species.