Vol. XXXl] KNTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 19 



and mostly yellow on the apical half, posterior face yellowish except for 

 a median blackish and reddish area, distance from metanotum to coxal 

 line as viewed from behind: distance between coxal line and abdominal 

 line : : 34 : 16; distance between coxal line and abdominal line : length of 

 hind coxae : : 16 : 50. 



Abdomen petiolate, length of first tergite : its width at apex : : 70 : 19; 

 length of first tergite : length of second : : 70 : 45; abdomen beyond fifth 

 tergite almost bulbous, abdomen reddish stramineous throughout, more 

 or less covered with blackish stains, first tergite with a yellow streak down 

 the middle on its basal two-thirds, lateral margins of tergites, like the 

 sternites more or less yellowish, sheaths with their apical fifth pale yellow, 

 rest of sheaths black, ovipositor castaneous. 



To Proposers of New Genera. 



[The following has been received through Dr. L. O. Howard.] 



This ought to be quoted in every entomological journal on earth and 



special "marked copies" sent to men of Walkerian tendencies. C. F. 



BAKER, Los Baiios, Philippine Islands. 



REMPHAN 



"The remarks of M. (luerin Meneville on this genus are so apposite> 

 and are so much more applicable at the present time, that we think we 

 are doing some service in calling attention to them here. He says, 'The 

 genus Remphan of Mr. Waterhouse, it seems to us, ought to be placed 

 near Macrotoma. The author has forgotten to state its affinities, after 

 having given its generic characters, commencing with the head and finish- 

 ing with the abdomen, jHst as is the custom with many entomologists, 

 and which is very convenient for celerity. In fact, in thus freeing one's 

 self from the researches which ought to be really made in order to fix 

 the place of a new genus, the task is reduced to almost mechanical work; 

 for it is only to say all or almost all that can be seen of an insect to describe 

 it, and leave to the poor reader the care and perplexity of picking whatever 

 seems good to him.' Mr. \Yuterhouse is, however, one of the last that 

 we can complain of in this respect; I nit the systematic determination ot 

 some to content themselves with the barest descriptions, without giving 

 the slightest clue to the position of their new genera, ought to disentitle 

 them to the right of priority in the event of any of these genera being 

 afterwards described in a conscientious and recognizable manner. < M 

 course, it is a different matter when it is stated of any new genus that 

 its affinities are doubtful or unknown to its author. As M. ( iuerin 

 Meneville observes, these mechanical descriptions can be done by any 

 one; the real test of competency will be found in the observation which 

 every conscientious writer will feel it his duty to make in instituting, or 

 proposing to institute, a new genus."- 1866, Pascoe, Pror. /<><>l. Sue., 5 .vs. 



