190 JOURNAL OF THE WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES VOL. 11, NO. 8 



given by Newcomb. A comparison of the positions of the equatorial stars in 

 this volume with those of the general catalogs of Newcomb and Boss gave 

 the following corrections to the position of these catalogs : 

 In right ascension, 



Aa(Newcomb) = -0^029 -0^005 sin a + 0^005 cos a + 0^000 sin 

 2a + 0^005 cos 2a -0^00G4 (mg. -4.5) 



Aa(Boss) = -0^020 -O.005 sin « + CP.009 cos a -0^002 sin 2a + 0^004 

 cos 2a + 0^0007 (mg. -4.5) 

 and in declination, 



A8 (Newcomb) = +0".5 A5 (Boss) = +()."<S 



Besides giving data for correcting the tables of motions of the sun, moon, and 

 planets, the volume gives precise recent positions of all the stars observable 

 in the latitude contained in the national almanacs and ephemerides and in 

 the fundamental catalogs, and of over 3,000 stars along the zodiac used for 

 observations of objects in the solar system. H. R. M. 



ENTOMOLOGY. — Generic classification of the hemipterous family Aphididae. 

 A. C. Baker. U. S. Dept. Agric. Bull. 826. Pp. 89, pis. 16. 1920. 



This paper presents a generic classification of the aphids, or plant lice. 

 The classification is preceded by a short description of the superfamily, some 

 remarks on its biology and phylogeny, and some statements on nomenclature. 

 The author follows the International Code on problems of nomenclature and 

 has been forced to make a few changes for well known genera. The type of 

 each genus is designated and notes on the synonymy are added. The paper 

 is illustrated by plates prepared from drawings made by the author. 



S. A. ROHWER. 



ENTOMOLOGY. — Larvae of North American beetles of the family Cleridae- 

 Adam G. Boving and A. B. Champlain. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 57: 

 575-649, pis. 42-53. 1920. 



This paper consists of two parts. The first, by the senior author, gives 

 detailed descriptions of the known North American larvae belonging to the 

 family Cleridae. This part includes a short synopsis and a detailed account 

 of the morphology of the larval stage of these valuable predators of wood and 

 bark-boring beetles. The author has carefully stated the material on which 

 the descriptions are based and has explained many of the characters used. 



The relationship of the various forms are discussed and it is to be noted 

 that there is some difference in the classification proposed for the larvae, and 

 the present classification used for the adults. This part is illustrated by 133 

 line-drawings made by the author. 



The second part, by the junior author, deals with the habits of the adults 

 and larvae of the known North American representatives of the groups. 

 The available information on the life and seasonal history of the various 

 forms is also included as well as a list of the species upon which they prey. 



S. A. Rohwer. 



WNTOMOLOGY.— Memoirs on the Coleoptera, TX. Thos. L. Casey. 

 (New Era Printing Company, Lancaster, Pa.) Pp. 529. 1920. 



In this volume of his memoirs on Coleoptera, Colonel Casey gives a re- 

 visional study of the American Platyninae, a random study of the American 



