50 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
species of Andrena, but forces the insect to make its escape in 
such a way as to assure the fertilization of the plant. As to the 
Hard Maples he mentioned an observation of his made during 
the present spring, viz., that the seeds of the numerous specimens 
of Hard Maples in the Smithsonian Grounds were, this year, uni- 
formly sterile, owing, perhaps, to the inclement weather during 
the flowering season, which prevented the bees from visiting the 
flowers. 
3. On a case of faulty instinct in one of our Tachina flies, 
which he had observed depositing eggs upon the hard body of 
Rhodobccnus \$-punctatus. The fly had apparently mistaken 
the bright-colored surface of the beetle for a caterpillar, and it 
seemed impossible for the young larva to pierce anywhere the 
hard covering of the beetle. 
In connection with the remarks on imported insects Dr. Marx 
stated that some time since he received several specimens of 
Epeira diademata from Minnesota, and thus there cannot be 
longer any doubt about the occurrence of this European spider 
in North America. 
Mr. Howard mentioned a remarkable case of muscular force 
exhibited in a specimen of Canthon (probably vigilans} which 
he had captured at night and placed in an empty inkstand. The 
beetle had repeatedly pushed off the very heavy cover, although 
working at a great disadvantage through being obliged to cling 
to the overhanging glass sides. 
Mr. Schwarz called attention to the unusual abundance of sev- 
eral species of Lachnosterna during the present season. The 
foliage of various trees in the Smithsonian Grounds had severely 
suffered from these May-beetles, and the damage was particularly 
noticeable in the immediate vicinity of the gas-lamps. 
Mr. Schwarz also said that he had frequently seen this spring, 
under pine bark, the cocoons of the Braconid which is parasitic 
on Pissodes strobi, and that upon referring to the literature he 
was surprised to find that the name of this Braconid was nowhere 
mentioned in connection with the natural history of the Pissodes, 
although the existence of the parasite was well known to the older 
authors. 
Mr. Howard stated that among numerous other insects a speci- 
men of Epicauta cinerea had lately been attracted by the light 
in his house. 
