62 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Feb., '05 



least 5000. He referred to a recent work on insect variation 

 and doubted the value of counting the spots and shape of 

 maculation in 1000 specimens of one variable species. It 

 simply indicated an indefinite variation which students already 

 are aware of. 



Discussed by Messrs. Castle, Harbeck and Wenzel, who 

 spoke of the variation of Cryptocephalus maculation. 



Prof. Smith remarked that in some seasons certain insects 

 are more constant than usual, and that variations are very 

 local. 



Mr. Wenzel referred to variation in Pterostichus , which bears 

 out Prof. Smith's remarks as to local variation. He also 

 showed a piece of wood from southern Arizona which was 

 perforated by insects. A specimen of Zygops seminiveus was 

 found inside. 



The incompleteness of analytical tables of species by Le 

 Conte was referred to by Messrs. Wenzel and Smith. To use 

 these tables properly it is necessary to have an almost complete 

 collection of the genus in question, owing to the indefiniteness 

 of most comparisons. 



Mr. Harbeck recorded the capture of Chlorops pidvera from 

 Fern Rock, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1904, and Leskia thecatazk 

 Clementon, N. J., September 5, 1904, both new to this 

 region. 



Mr. Laurent exhibited a butterfly showing effects of cyanide 

 on the yellow coloring. He had examined the abdomens of 10 

 specimens of Prionus laticollis and found that they contained 

 an average of 383^ eggs. 



Mr. Daecke showed a beetle, Silvaniis snrinamensis, which 

 was found commonly in barrels of currants imported from 

 Greece. WM. J. Fox, Secretary. 



A meeting of the American Entomological Society was held 

 December 22, 1904. Dr. Philip P. Calvert, President, in the 

 chair. Fourteen persons were present. The following were 

 elected to serve as officers for the year 1905 : President, P. P. 

 Calvert ; Vice-President, H. W. Wenzel ; Treasurer, E. T. 

 Cresson ; Recording Secretary, Henry Skinner ; Correspond- 



