Il8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, 



tered in a study of Oedemeridae, and showed that while a char- 

 acter may be admissable for the separation of genera, it would 

 be found in a nearby genus that species must be admitted with 

 and without the same character. It was indicated that Calopus 

 and Oxacis must be each separated in two genera. 



Relative to a discussion on the question of the possibility of 

 evolution in some orders of insects, Prof. Smith remarked that 

 even the classification of the orders themselves and their mode 

 of evolution or descent was not yet satisfactorily settled. As a 

 result of his studies he believed that a branching of the insects 

 took place in the Thysanura, and that from them were developed 

 on one side the Hemiptera, and on the other side all other orders; 

 that is to say, that the one order, Hemiptera represented a branch 

 of equal value, though not equal in development to all other 

 orders. The Hemiptera type proved well adapted to sustain 

 itself, but had little power of variation, thence there is a remark- 

 able similarity in certain structural characters throughout the 

 order. The mandibulate type proved to possess unlimited powers 

 of variability and branched in every direction. The best com- 

 parison to make would be a tree branching from the seed, of 

 which one shoot extended upward without branches and with 

 only a few short spurs or twigs and a crown of leaves at the tip, 

 while a second trunk branched soon after reaching above ground 

 and sent off vigorous shoots from all the branches in every direc- 

 tion, making a symmetrical tree at the side of the flag staff. 



Apropos of Dr. Skinner's remarks at the January meeting in 

 reference to arrangement of the females in the cabinets, Mr. 

 Laurent remarked that he thought it made but little difference 

 how the specimens were arranged, that personally he preferred 

 to arrange the larger species one above the other, and to indicate 

 in his check-list by the use of the characters, denoting male and 

 female, as to what sex or sexes were represented in his collection, 

 by which means he has but to look over his list when he can 

 easily ascertain what species or sex he is short of by simply 

 noting those which are unmarked. 



Dr. Horn stated that he thought every collector should arrange 

 his specimens to suit his own fancy or convenience and purposes 

 of study. 



Mr. Fox moved that a vote of thanks be extended to Dr. 



