“The American Naturalist” for May, 1871, contains an interesting article on “Flying Spiders,” by J. H. Emerton. The species noticed by him are, no doubt, allied to the gossamer of Europe, and the phenomenon occurs early in autumn on the Islands of the St. Lawrence.

During the month of July, 1871, while trout-fishing on a large lake near the Upper Assumption, about one hundred miles north of Montreal, my attention was drawn to an inflated transparent substance of an oblong cocoon shape, passing about fifty yards over my head.

I can endorse (not necessary, of course) Mr. Mead's “Notes on Collecting,” pub. p. 78, vol. 5 of the “Entomologist,” with right good will, having used similar methods myself for several years. I think I got my idea from H. Guard Knaggs.

A little improvement, However, may be made. If the collector, instead of putting in his “Cyanide of Potassinm” in “lumps,” will pound it to a fine powder, intimately mix it with the necessary amount of Plaster of Paris, and then pour in water till the mixture has by stirring assumed the consistency of cream, he will have a more efficacious, as well as a more lasting box (or bottle).

I have received, through the kindness of Mr. C. V. Riley, a specimen of this fine species which has been heretofore unknown to me. It is, perhaps, a little larger than unijuga and very different in character (also, therefore, distinct from junctura, from my recollection of that species in the British Museum) ; it resmbles the European elocata in the appearance of the forewings : these are evenly intensely powdered with dark scales on a grey ground color which becomes yellowish brown over the median spots and subterminal space.

If the rule holds good absolutely that the same generic name should not be used in Entomologya and Botany, then Gracillaria must be dropped in one or the other. I do not know which has priority, but a name of a genus so old and well known as the Gracillaria of Micro-Lepidopterists ought scarcely to give place to an obscure genus of Cryptogamia.

There are but few of our readers who are not familiar with the caterpillar of the Isabella Tiger Moth, one of our commonest “woolly bears,” and found, we believe, in almost every part of canada and the Northern United States. This larva, in common with many other members of the family (arctidæ) to which it belongs, hybernates during the winter. It acquires nearly full growth in the autumn, and then, having selected a cosy sheltered spot under bark, 1og, rail, stone or board in which to hide, it coils itself up there into a sort of ball and sleeps through the long and dreary winter, and about the time when the birds come back and the warm days of spring begin, this bristly creature rouses itself to begin rife anew.

The following notes were suggested by “Observations,” &c" on Aphides in The Canadian Entomologist for July, 1873. The species noticed on Rumex crispus seems to have very much resemblance to A rumicis of Europe; some other species of N. America do not differ from those of Europe, but have been probably introduced by means of shipping. With regard to European Aphides it is well known that the winged female of many species appears in the spring, that the wingless female is more fertile than the winged one, that the winged state is, partly at least, by means of the diminution of quantity or alteration of quality in the food, and that the winged state enables the species to have a change of habitation and thus to continue its race till the autumn.

During the latter part of this month ans early June those who have grape vines under their charge are often annoyed at finding the terminal leaves of the young and tender branches tied by means of silken threads into a sort of ball shaped mass, and within the hollow sphere thus formed is found a small whitish hairy caterpillar, which feasts on the tender leaves ans young blossom bunches. Usually but a single occupant is found in each enclosure, but occasionally we have found two, and, in one instance, three.

The following communication includes two genera of Chalcidiae,Perilampus, and Callimome. Perilampus is known in America from Canada to Mexico. P. hyalinus Say, inhabits Canada; P. cyaneus Brulle and P. Entellus Walk. are synonyms of it. Say has described two other species, P. platigaster and P. triangularis; the latter is distinguished from all other species by the dark tips of the wings. P. Alexinus Walk differs from P. platigaster by not having a brassy tinge, by the luteous tips of the femora, and by the luteous tibiae with a black band.

It is distinctiy within my knowledge that many persons who are not overburdened with too large a share of wordly wealth, are strongly inclined to make the study of Entomology and the collecting of insect specimens an employment for their leisure hours, were it not for fear of the expense they believe it necessary to incur for cabinet, cork, pins, &c. Now, the cabinet and cork may be dispensed with-in fact, I have neither the one nor the other myself.