PROC. ENT. SOC. WASH., VOL. 23, NO. 9, DEC., 1921 213 



ground, and found that the prey which it dropped was a periodi- 

 cal cicada; about half of the head of the cicada had been eaten 

 away. 



The foregoing notes all refer to the larger seventeen-year 

 "locust" (Tibicena septendecim). The smaller form also was 

 locally abundant, and renewed observation of the very distinct 

 character of its song was made. A review of the literature 

 brings out the following points bearing on the specific character 

 of the dwarf form. This smaller insect seems never to inter- 

 breed with the larger, and notwithstanding ordinary variability 

 is distinct in size, color and genital characters as well as in song. 

 There seems no good reason therefore why it should not be con- 

 sidered a full species (Tibicena cassinii}. T. cassinii does seem 

 to be rather a camp-follower of T. septendecim, varying with it 

 in periodicity (in response to temperature no doubt) from 13 

 years for the southern to 17 years for the northern broods, but 

 this should not militate against its recognition as a species. 

 Doubtless one form was derived from the other, but it certainly 

 is not more difficult to consider them distinct, than two species 

 of Phyllophaga, for instance, which may have identical habitat, 

 food and life cycle. Geographic or seasonal isolation is no 

 longer regarded as essential to distinctness of species, it being 

 recognized that just as effective isolation may be due to more 

 subtle factors. 



WILLIAM H. FOX. 



Doctor William H. Fox, a former member of the Entomo- 

 logical Society of Washington, died at his home in Washington, 

 D. C., November, 1921. Doctor Fox was elected a member of 

 our Society November 3, 1887. From 1888 until 1893 he was 

 a member of the Executive Committee; during the year 1889 

 was Recording Secretary; he was a member of the Editorial 

 Committee for volume I. He took an active part in the earlier 

 meetings of the Society, presenting many notes and papers. 

 Most of these dealt with spiders although some presented new 

 facts about habits of insects. He described a number of new 

 species of spiders and was especially interested in their habits. 

 The collection which he prepared was sold to Cornell L T niversity 

 when it became necessary for Doctor Fox to discontinue his 

 avocation in favor of his vocation. Doctor Fox was a gradu- 

 ate of Yale, and for many years a member of the medical pro- 

 fession in Washington, D. C. He was a kind and thoughtful 

 man and loved bv all who knew him. 



Actual date of publication, December j/, 1921 . 



