In the examination of my last season's collections of Hypena scabra (scabralis, Guen.,) and “H. erectalis,” for sexual determinations, I was surprised to find of the former, only the male represented. and of the latter, only the female. Collections of each having been made during the same period of time (from September 1st to September 24th) and at the same place (the wall and ceiling of the piazza of my residence)– such a remarkable occurrrence seemed to be so removed from accident, and inexplicable from any difference of sexual habits, that I was led to suspect the identity of the two species.

Although this insect is quite generally distributed and very destructive to the foliage of the raspberry, it has, strange to say, been but little noticed by Entomologists in their publications. There is a short reference to it in “Harris' Entomological Correspondence,” in a letter from Darling to Harris, written, in 1846, where a very correct eccount is given of the manner in which the egg is deposited. There is also a much briefer notice in “Packard's Guide,” and these are all the references we have been able to find.

Long, ·3o-·33 inch. Body elongated, glabrous, sanguineous, pilose. Head, disk of prothorax, and under surface black; head rhomboidal, middle wider than thorax, thence gradually constricted into a narrow rufous neck; eyes large and prominent; mouth parts, three basal joints, antennæ and legs rufous; eighth and ninth joints of antennae white, remaining joints black; prothorax elongate, cylindrical, piceous; humeral base and apex rufous, widest just behind middle, when viewed vertically two fine long yellowish erect hairs will be observed to arise laterally just before the middle, much longer than on elytra.

This insect belongs to the order Neuroptera, which term signifies nerve-veined, so-called in consideration of the netted structure of the wings. The members of the particular family (Libellulidæ) to which our specimen belongs, rival many of the Butterflies in their graceful shapes and brilliant colouring, while they excel them in rapidity of flight. These insects have received various popular names in different countries–the French call them Demoiseiles, the Germans Florfliegen or Gauze-flies, or Wasserjungfern or Virgins of the Water, while the Engiish style them Dragon-flies, Horse-stingers or Devil's Darning-needles.

That the Aphids in the sprine time are wingless, virgin females, is an opinion that has been carefully entertained by some of the most distinguished naturalists and physiologists in the world. Bonnet, Reaumur, Owen, Huxley, &c., have especially studied this interesting class of insects, and have given expression to the above opinion in their writings. But this, therw are strong reasons for asserting, must be taken in a restricted sense, so far, at any rate, as our own Aphidae are concerned.

The papers on Nomenclature, letely published in the Canadian Entomologist, have much interested me, and doubtless many others, and as the subject is one that just now, for reasons well known, appeals especially to Lepidopterists, I beg to be allowed a little of your space to give my views thereupon, and to state what I believe is a practicable remedy for the evils complained of.

I am glad that this matter of Nomenclature was brought so prominently forward by the Entomologists present at the Meeting of the American Association for 1872, and that a Committee was appointed by the Entomological section to report a series of Rules for consideration at the next Meeting.

Forewings dentate, pulverulent, of a rather lighter grey than C.unijuga.... Median lines black, single, not very distinct. A whitish space before the large bisannulate concolorous reniform. sub-reniform likewise whitish, closed, joined to the t. p. line, the latter jagged but without very prominent discal teeth. making a deeper and narrower sinus altove vein than in C. unijuga. Subterminal upright. dentate, shade (preceding the blackish line) distinct.

Larvae, long, 1.07 to 1.10 inch. Head rather large, smooth, vertical; occiput dark chestnut brown; medial line abbreviated, but well defined; lateral lines complete; vertex piceous, sculptured; front rufo-piceous ; mandibles obtuse, opaque, with three large deep impressed punctures; labium 3-dentate; mentum sinuated, sub-flavous. Body sub-cylindrical, not curved, sub-flavous, middle segments largest, humeral and anal segments corneous, brownish; legs replaced by six tubercles.

I herewith send you some memoranda of what I have done during the past summer, largely owing to the assistance of Mr. Mead. I consider it my most successful season in the way of obtaining larvæ eggs. One of the most interesting species we discovercd was Lycaena pseudargiolus. Mr. Mead noticed a female hovering about flowers of Actinomeris squarrosa, which is a weed found hereabouts in company with A. heliianthoides–the last being a thousand-fold most numerous-andl suspeceing that she was oviposing, he made a careful examination of the plant.

Since it is conceded that the law of priority is invariable in its application to zoological nomenclature, it remains for us to apply it to the determination of our Butterflies. That some inconveniences may arise from the corection of errors, does not militate against our desire to be right. The question is, are Mr. Scudder's genera well founded, or, are his names entitled to precedence, not is it convenient for us to use them. without as yet entering an extended discussion upon the structural characters of our Butterflies, we will briefly notice Mr. Scudder's genera.

This paper is the first of a series in which it is proposed, by members of the edirorial staff alternately, to describe some of our more common insects, to illustrate them with suitable cuts, and to make the descriptions of so plain a character that the most unscientific reader may be able readily to comprehend their meaning. Since it is one of our aims in publishing the Entomologist to popularize our favorite science, we shall offer no apology for introducing into our journal these readable papers, in which much material may from time to time appear, which, to the scientific reader, may look stale and uninviting.

The identity of Pamphila pocahontas and quadaquina with the typical species zabulon has been universally acknowledged, although there exists no more positive proof than the fact that no males of these forms have ever been discovered. I have in my collection an intermediate specimen exhibiting plainly the characters of the original species and of the variety and sub-variety, and apparently a link between them.

In pursuance of our plan of laying before our readers, from time to time, illustrated descriptions of the common insects of this country, we propose to begin in this number of our journal some account of the Butterflies belonging to the genus Pieris–familiarly known in their larval state as “Cabbage-Worms.” As stated by our coadjutor, Mr. Saunders, in the first paper of this series (C. E.,v., page 4), we do not profess to bring out any new facts or information of interest and value to the experienced Entomologist, but we wish to afford to our less scientific rerders plain descriptions, with illustrations, of our more common insects, in order that any one beginning to collect and observe may be able to identify and learn something about what he meets with.