l82 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, '09 



out by the genitalia as I have been doing, but to clear up the Ameri- 

 can species I want a great deal of material, the variations are so small 

 that the only safe way of coming to the correct conclusions is to obtain 

 as large a series of each as possible, and especially in localities where 

 the two overlap. Will American entomologists help me? I shall be 

 glad of as large a series as possible, both from the Eastern and West- 

 ern States, as also from the Central ones, I would only ask that cor- 

 rect localities be given, and as far as possible, dates, the latter being 

 an important factor in the matter. I will do my best to make an ade- 

 quate return, either in Palearctic butterflies or Exotic species, especially 

 New Guinea and African. 



Appeals like this often pass almost unheeded, but I trust this may 

 not be so, and I shall be most grateful for any assistance that may 

 be kindly given. GEORGE T. BETHUNE-BAKER, 19 Clarendon Road, 

 Edgbaston, England. 



Doings of Societies. 



A regular meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 

 was held at 55 Stuyvesant Avenue February 4, 1909, with 

 President J. B. Smith, twenty-six members and seven visitors 

 present. 



W. Korte, 148 Dean Street, was elected an active member. 



Dr. Raymond C. Osburn, of Barnard College, delivered a 

 lecture on the life habits of the Odonata, illustrated by many 

 lantern slides. He has observed about twenty species breeding 

 equally well in fresh or brackish water. The limit is about 

 one-third of the salinity of sea water. On adding salt the larvae 

 were observed to be greatly disturbed and soon died. The 

 eggs of many species were shown and the embryology illus- 

 trated. The embryo turns completely around before the egg 

 hatches. The method of copulation varies only as between the 

 Zygoptera and Anisoptera. Larval characters and habits vary 

 greatly among the different genera. The egg takes six days 

 to three weeks to develop. Larval life from three months to 

 three years. Pupation terrestrial. Respiration and transfor- 

 mation were fully considered. 



E. L. Dickerson and John A. Grossbeck, of the New Jersey 

 Agricultural Experiment Station, demonstrated their method 

 of bleaching, staining and mounting lepidopterous wings for 



