92 Recent Literature. [ ZOE 
districts and the grasshopper invasions, like the electric storms oD 
the plains, having no relation to human interests, passed unnoticed: 
Mr. Riley’s notes on that entomological paradox, the Platyphyllus, 
are of the highest interest. The dipterous parasite on Déabvotica 
soror, described by D. W. Coquillet, from Los Angeles, is not only 
of agricultural importance, but it is a most interesting biological fact 
and rather isolated in the history of parasitism. Whether the author 
is justified in erecting a new genus containing only this newly dis- 
covered species, may be questioned by others than ourselves. 
We may expect a long series of connecting links in that yet very im- 
perfectly explored ocean of parasitic life, where the microscope re- 
veals every year new and mysterious types. In the meantime we 
admire the author’s courage. H. H. B. 
Psyche, No. 166-169. The Synopsis of the Odonata discussing 
the genus Azazx is of the usual accurate and conscientious character 
which we are accustomed to find in the works of Dr. Hagen. A dis- 
cussion of the Argynnides of North America by H. J. Elwes and W. 
H. Edwards, is of unusual interest. The matter isa very complicated 
one. Mr. Edwards having studied the life history of most of the types, 
and raised many of the species from the eggs, appears to be in pos- 
session of the more reliable material, while Mr. Elwes by his enor- 
mous collection from all parts of the globe commands a wider hori- 
zon, that gives him the advantage in drawing conclusions from an- 
alogies. J. J. Rivers adds some valuable observations, but is some- 
what reserved in generalizing from the material in his possession. 
H. H. B. 
Entomologica Americana, Vol. vi, Nos. 4, 5. Descriptions of New 
or Imperfectly Known Lepidoptera, by B. Neumogen; Synopsis of 
Cerambycide by C. W. Leng; Description of a New Carabide of the 
genus Cychrus, by J.J. Rivers; Biological Notes on Arachnis picta 
from Los Angeles, by H.G. Dyar; on Edema albifrons by W. Beu- 
tenmuller; a series of descriptions of new Californian Homoptera by 
E. P. Van Duzee; Remarks on some Western Tenebrionidz by H. 
F. Wickham, and a new species of Botis, by John B. Smith. This 
journal is an unmistakable proof of the growing interest and value 
of entomological studies, and we notice with pleasure in the publi- 
cations before us an advance along the wholene. 2 BOR. 2, 
