120 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
of the parasites, in which the specific determination of the host is 
of less importance. Here in America, however, owing to the fact 
that little has been written upon the habits or classification of par- 
asites, such records occur almost entirely in works on the habits 
of the hosts, which are usually injurious insects, or at least showy 
ones well known to the popular eye, and in this case the specific 
determination of the parasite becomes the less important. Thus 
in Europe we have twenty or more parasites recorded from " bark- 
lice on oak," and these bark-lice may or may not be identical with 
species in this country, and, per contra, in this country we all 
know how often occurs the phrase, " a hymenopterous parasite 
lives in this insect," or " an ichneumonid parasite has been bred." 
From these two facts, tendencies, or necessities it will be readily 
seen that it is almost too early for generalizations. 
In the present state of our knowledge in America, perhaps no 
better can be done. In Europe there is less excuse ; specialists 
abound, the insect fauna is well known, and nothing but the in- 
tentness of the individual upon his own restricted group, and his 
carelessness as to others, and even to the close relations in life 
which they bear to other groups, prevents us from having much 
fuller records. Few lepidopterists, for instance, save the para- 
sites which issue from larva? in which they are interested. The 
parasites are to them such unmitigated nuisances, and their ap- 
pearance is such a grievous disappointment, that, unless they 
chance to belong to some brilliant or striking species, they are 
thrown aside in disgust. Here, however, I must pay my respects 
to Messrs. Bridgman and Fitch, who have brought about a revival 
in England of late years in the direction of a reform of this abuse. 
At the present day there are many English lepidopterists who re- 
ligiously save and record the parasites which they rear. 
This leads us naturally to the mention of the other entomologists 
whose records have been of assistance, and who have done the most 
in the study of the lives of parasites. 
Messrs. Bridgman and Fitch are well towards the top, and they 
have recorded a great many rearings in The Entomologist during 
the last eight years. 
Ratzeburg, in his great work on the Ichneumons of Forest In- 
sects, recorded some eighteen hundred parasites and their hosts. 
It is difficult to use his observations, however, on account of the 
