THE CANADIAN KNTOMOLOGIST. 251 



the afternoon. The first week in August larvae were found mining under 

 the bark, and evidently of this species ; whether they are to mature and 

 pupate this fall or defer this important change until spring remains to be 

 seen. 



The identification of the species was by comparison with examples in 

 the National Museum. One of the specimens in that collection has a 

 note written upon the label stating tliat it was taken from under the bark 

 of the persimmon. I have also taken pupae and cocoons from under the 

 bark of the black cherry which appear to be identical. Imago not seen. 



Mr. Smith then made some remarks 



ON THE SPECIES OF CUCULLIA. 



He had just completed a revision of the species with plenty of good 

 material, and had found the species not difficult to separate. I'hey are 

 very closely related, and very constant, so that comparatively small 

 characters are constant. A large amount of material from Colorado de- 

 veloped the interesting fact that there was a series of western species equal 

 in number and parallel with an eastern series, and that as a whole each 

 series differed more than the individual species did themselves. Thus far 

 he does not know a single species found on both sides of the continent, 

 while, besides this parallel series, each side has an oddity or two. 



Mr. Schwarz said that parallel series of eastern and western species, 

 such as described by Mr. Smith, were not rare in the Coleoptera, and 

 asked whether in this scheme Texas was eastern or western. 



Mr. Smith said neither series occurred in Texas, which had a species 

 peculiar to itself and Arizona, and in answer to Mr. Ashmead, he said 

 the nearest allies of the European species appeared in the western series. 



Mr. Smith also made a few remarks on 



STAINING INSECT TISSUES. 



He had found considerable trouble in his studies in differentiating 

 parts, and especially those structures that tend to become transparent. 

 Alter considerable experimentation he had found fiigrosm one of the 

 most satisfactory stains for trachea and glands, and many of the mem- 

 braneous structures. It does not touch chitine. By the use of this stain 

 he had followed the trachea to the tips of antennae and into the labella of 

 flies. Saffronin is another valuable stain, and especially for chitinous 

 structures, for which it seemed to have a special affinity. Combining 



