OF WASHINGTON. 3 
of this species. Mr. Barber stated that there are some differ- 
ences between Melander and Brues' figure of the $ and his own 
specimens in the length of the joints of the front and hind tarsi, 
the most striking difference being in the basal joint of the hind 
tarsus, which, in his specimens, is very broad and has a beauti- 
ful set of diagonal rows of bristles, similar to that found on the 
same joint in beetles belonging to the genus Mordellistena. Mr. 
Barber thought it improbable that a wingless $ could have had 
a chance to oviposit in the collection since the introduction of 
the latter into this country, and he believed that the flies should 
be labeled as coming from the Bahamas. Microscopic and 
pinned specimens of adults, c? and $ , and larvae and pupae were 
shown, as also Melander and Brues' published figure. 
Discussing this note Mr. Currie mentioned having found 
Phorid flies in a cigar box of insects sent to the National Mu- 
seum from the Hawaiian Islands by Dr. Ashmead during the 
summer of 1901. They had bred from several large dragon- 
flies of the genus Anax, eggs of the Phorid having undoubtedly 
been deposited on them shortly after they were collected and 
before they were packed for shipment. 
Dr. Stiles entertained the Society with a short account of 
the work done at the International Zoological Congress which 
met at Bern, Switzerland, the past summer. He stated that 
there were 400 members present, 26 of whom were Americans. 
Unfortunately he was unable to attend any -of the meetings de- 
voted to entomology, since his position on the committee on 
rules of nomenclature kept him closely engaged for 18 days. 
He mentioned in brief the work of that committee and stated 
that the code as revised and adopted is now in type and will be 
published in English, French, and German. 
Dr. Ashmead, under the title "New Hymenoptera from 
the Philippine Islands," reviewed the work that has been done 
upon Philippine Hymenoptera and mentioned the sources of 
material from that region which has come into the possession of 
the National Museum. He also exhibited a box containing 
some of the more interesting species from recent sendings and 
made comments upon them. He called special attention to a 
specimen of the hitherto undescribed 9 of the ant Sim a allo- 
