Apatela mœsta,n. var.

A very distinct from of the European Ieporina, Linn., dark gray, fully as dark as Canadensis, Smith & Dyar, which it much resembles; but the basal line is broken and the transverse posterior line is dentate as in leporina.

Dipeta during the past century have gradually risen in public estimation, especially among men of science. The superiority of their organization has been recognized by systematists, and observers of living specimens have noticed peculiarities in their behaviour which prove a higher development of their faculties than of those of other order.

This is one of a series of papers—Andreninæ, Tr. Am. Ent., Soc. 28: 187; Halictinæ, Can, Ent. 34: 245, 1902: Sphecodinæ, Ent. News 14:103; Megachilidæ and Bombinæ. Tr. Am. Ent. Soc. 29:163; Nomadinæ Can. Ent. 35:172; Epeolinæ, Can. Ent. 35: 284, 1903— intended to bring together the results of studies of the bees of the neighbourhood of Carlinville, Illinois.

This Spittle insect of the Pine was abundant on two trees on the campus of Blacksburg, Virginia, last summer, and an attempt was made to observe its oviposition and to work out its complete life-history.

Owing to lack to time this was not successful, but the following notes may be of some interest:

The Protective Secretion.—The material under which the nymphs live consists of a cler albuminous liquid, exuded by the insect, mixed intimately with bubbles of air introducted by the nymph after secretion; it is tasteless, or slightly salty.

Spinola in 1851 described and figured Diphaglossa Gayi as a new species and new genus closely related to Anthophora. It was founded on males and females collected in northern Chili, “Santa Rosa, Coquimbo, etc.” He figures the insect (natural size), face view of head and mouthparts, wing, antennæ and leg.

♀ and ♂ new to Vancouver. Hitherto only the male of this fossorial wasp had been known. The males recorded in the literature came from Nove Scotia, Cananda; Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. The female is related to T. medius, Fox, but differs in size, sculpture and ornamentation, particularly in the contrast between the deep median sclcus on the metanotum and the regular subdued sculpture adjoining. In medius the sclcus is not sharply outlined, nor is there a strong contrast between it and the sculpture of the adjoining area which is rough. The female of T. latipes is much like the male, and is readily referred to its fully described sex. Prof. Harvey sent one female taken 21st June, 1903, and one male 19th June, 1903, to Dr. Henry Skinner, who referred them to me for identification.

As the Editor expresses willingness to receive notes on any entomological subject, I give my experience with “vertical” inflation of caterpillars. I have done a great deal of inflating, and find three bad faults with the common horizontal ovens.

Ist. The air pressure necessary to extedn the caterpillar oftern is enough to force the skin out of shape.

1. O. binotata, Loew.

Chicago, Ill. (July); Austin, Tex. (May); Colo.

2. O. cincta, Olivies.

Chicago and Algonquin, Ill. (June).

3. O. dorsalis, Fabricius.

Hayti

4. O. arcuata, Loew

Chicago, Ill, (July); Colo.

5. O. nigrirostris, Loew.

Chicago, Ill.; Austin, Tex.; Colo.; Lusk, Wyom. (August).

Within the last few years three books have taken their place in the scientific literature of this country that should make a great advance in the study of natural history in our high schools. The first was “The Butterfly Book,” by Dr. W. J. Holland; the second, “The Insect Book,” by Dr. L. O. Howard, and the third, recently out, “The Moth Book,” by the author of the first. The cheapness of these three volumes places them within the means of any high school that makes any pretense to having a reference library, while the excellent plates, photographed from the specimens, make them of great value to the young who desire means for identifying their captives.

Chrysops fulvistigma, n. sp—Female. Palpi yellowish, antennæ slender, first segment yellowish, slightly darker at apex, second and third segments brown, annulate portion nearly black. Face shining black, covered next the eyes and on the anterior parts of the cheeks with yellowish-gray pollen. Front yellowish-gray pollinose, callosity and region surronding the ocelli, shining black. Thorax dark, nearly black, with grayish pollen above, giving the impression of stripes before the suture; coxa, basal two-thirds of femur and base of tibia of anterior leg, and nearly the whole tibia and base of tarsus of middle leg, yellow; remainder of legs dark, nearly black. Wing alomost hyaline, costal margin from base to apex, and a narrow cross-band abbreviated behind pale brownish, stigma conspicuously brownish-yellow.