1898.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 121 



ANDRENA MARI/E. Mr. C. Robertson, Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis, 

 1898, p. 47, says that A. sphecodina is probably a synonym of wants. 

 This is certainly not the case, as apart from the constant difference in the 

 color of the $ abdomen, the 9 is also different. Mr. Dunning sent me 

 a 9 marine from Ames, Iowa, on Gooseberry (E. D. Ball), and I noted 

 that it came near to sphecodina, but was a little larger and stouter, with a 

 more closely punctured abdomen, and the hind tibiae and basal joint of 

 tarsi wholly dark. The abdomen is punctured much as m genevensis.- 



T. D. A. COCKERELL. 



As an enthusiastic entomologist it gives me great pleasure to announce 

 the opening of the season here in Massachusetts. To-day (March 13) I 

 captured a very fair specimen of Vanessa antiopa which was disporting 

 itself by the roadside near my home in Dorchester. I was, of course, 

 delighted to see this harbinger of Spring which gives such promise of the 

 better days to come when I can be out with my net pursuing my hobby 

 (Lepidoptera) to my heart's content. This is the earliest capture in this 

 vicinity that has come to my knowledge and thinking the fact worth re- 

 cording I have written to you. Until I hear to the contrary I shall claim 

 the distinction of having taken the first butterfly in the vicinity of Boston 

 this year. HARRY H. NEWCOMB. 



IN REPLY: A note in a recent bulletin by Prof. Gillette necessitates 

 notice from me for the reason that it questions my honor as a conscientious 

 scientific worker. Those who know me personally will understand that 

 there must be too good sides to the question. I shall open up no public 

 discussion of the matter, as this almost invariably results in a bandying 

 of personalities which is burdensome alike to reader and journal, and in 

 no way adds to the sum of scientific knowledge. Any one enough inter- 

 ested in the matter to address me will be given a view from a distinctly 

 different standpoint than that taken by Prof. Gillette, and one which, in 

 simple justice, is entitled to equal consideration. C. F. BAKER, Auburn, 

 Ala. 



Entomological Liter a.ti_ire. 



Under the above head it is intended to note such papers received at the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia pertaining to the Entomology of the Americas (North 

 and South). Articles irrelevant to American entomology, unless monographs, or con- 

 taining descriptions of new genera, will not be noted. Contributions to the anatomy, 

 physiology and embryology of insects, however, whether relating to American or exotic- 

 species, will be recorded. The numbers in heavy-faced type refer to the journals, as 

 numbered in the following list, in which the papers are published; * denotes that the 

 paper in question contains descriptions of new North American forms. Titles of all arti- 

 cles in foreign languages are translated into English ; usually such articles are written in 

 the same language as the title of the journal containing them, but when such articles are 

 in other languages than English, French, German or Italian, this fact is indicated in 

 paienthesis. 



1. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 

 iggS. 2. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, Phila- 

 delphia. 4. The Canadian Entomologist, London, Ont., April, '98. 

 5. Psyche, Cambridge, Mass., April, '98. <>. Journal of the New York 



5* 



