214 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
these are, in the average, in much better condition than one would sup- 
pose. The most striking feature in this Order is the complete absence of 
Rhopalocera and Sphingidce, which both abound in the Lake Superior 
region in specimens, but which are. no doubt, altogether too good flyers 
to be caught by the lake. Some Sesiidce are found on the beach, mostly 
dead and badly decayed. Bombycidce and Noctuidce are well represented 
in species and specimens, and most of them alive and in good condition, 
except that many JVoctuidce are minus the abdomen. I presume this is 
bitten off by the minnows. Tortrtcidte, Pyralida, and Tineidce are not 
very numerous, and most specimens found on the beach are badly used up, 
though still living. However, if the specimens are fished up from the sur- 
face of the water they are found to be in an excellent state of preservation. 
The trouble with these delicate Lepidoptera is that when the waves cast 
them ashore they get entangled with their wings among the wet mass of 
other insects and other objects, whence they cannot free themselves. 
HYMENOPTERA AND COLEOPTERA. Very little remains to be said con- 
cerning these two Orders. Both can sustain immersion much better than 
the other insects, although, of course, drowned specimens of almost every 
species are met with. Both are extremely well represented iu most fami- 
lies, and if any one is desirous of making a collection of these Orders the 
sandy beaches of Lake Superior in the early part of July are the best col- 
lecting-ground. In Hymenoptera the Tenthredinidce predominate in spe- 
cies and specimens. Uroceridoe are also numerous. The Apidce are the 
only family in which many drowned specimens can be found, especially in 
Bombus and other very hairy genera. The families Icknettmontdce, Bra- 
conida, and Chalcididce are very well represented and in good condition. 
Male specimens of Mutillida were not observed. Ants are but poorly 
represented, but the winged specimens of a few species are exceedingly 
abundant on certain days. There are many dead specimens among them, 
but the majority are alive. 
The Coleoptera have the stigmata better protected than any other Order, 
and, for this reason, are best fitted to withstand immersion. They ai-e ex- 
tremely well represented on the beach, and of all families occurring in the 
Lake Superior region there are only two which are not washed ashore, 
viz., the CicindelidtB and Gyrtnidce. The former abound on the sand of 
the beach, but it seems that they never fly into the lake, nor did I ever 
succeed in driving them into the water. The Gyrinidce are the only Col- 
eoptera which inhabit the open lake. Their home is on the surface of the 
water, but even in the heaviest storm they do not allow themselves to be 
cast ashore by the waves. Dytiscidce are very numerous among the washed- 
up insects, and it seems strange that we find here also drowned specimens. 
It must be remembered, however, that they do not live in the open lake, 
and when they are in the water far from the shore they cannot rest, and 
seem to be unable to renew the supply of air necessary for respiration. Among 
the Chrysomelidce the nearly subaquatic genus Donacia abounds on the 
beach in species and specimens. They are always washed ashore in per- 
