THE CANADIA.N ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The separation of Balani?ius into species with valid characters was 

 effected by Dr. Geo. H. Horn in a monograph of the genus in 1873 

 (Proc. Am. Phil. Soc, Phil., xiii., 457, et. seq.). The species assigned to 

 Say's names were determined by the descriptions of Gyllenhal from types 

 sent him by Say, and the assignment has not been questioned • — Requiat. 

 To the old species, rflirv^^ry/d'j, recites, nasicus and uniforviis (Lee, 1857), 

 were added ca?-yce and quercus ; and in 1885, Mr. F. Blanchard (Bui. 

 Brook. Ent. Soc, vii,, 107,) described obtustcs. The systematic part of 

 the work has been well done, yet the accurate separation of a mixed 

 collection requires much care and considerable practice, and cannot be 

 effected by mere inspection. To determine whether each species has a 

 preference for some particular species of acorn or nut, or whether there is 

 an absence of choice, I instituted some experiments in rearing them, the 

 results of which I "propose to give, without, however, claiming them as 

 finalities. In the year 1888, larvae from hazelnuts (Corylus Americana 

 and C. rostrata) collected here by myself; from chestnuts ( Castanea 

 vesca) purchased in the market, collected in many places in the surround- 

 ing country ; and from acorns of white oak (Quercus alba), chestnut oak 

 (Q. monticola), black oak ( Q. tinctoria), red oak ( Q. rubra), scarlet oak 

 ( Q. coccinea) and Q. imbricaria, all collected in the same woods, were 

 placed in separate breeding jars, which were kept in my office till the 

 present time, the winter temperature not falling below 40°, nor that of 

 summer exceeding 65°. This was evidently an unnatural condition, and 

 in part accounts for the irregular developement of the most of the species, 

 and the not inconsiderable number of larvae that go over till the next year. 



B. proboscoideus Fab. (caryatrypes Bohm.). — This species was bred 

 only from chestnuts. The first example appeared June 25 and the last 

 July 12 — a period corresponding with the blooming of the chestnut here. 

 At the time of blossoming the chestnuts are fully formed, and larger than 

 might be supposed. The envelope or burr is over ihree-fourths of an inch 

 in height, soft, and covered with distant tubercles from which the prickles 

 afterwards develope. The % proboscoideus at this time deposits her eggs 

 and dies, her life being limited to a week or two at the most — none being 

 found after the bloom has fallen. About eighty examples were reared, the 

 sexes being numerically equal. They were uniform in size and color, and 

 beautifully variegated with fuscous lines and spots interspersed among the 

 (ieus? clothing of ochreous scales on the thorax and elytra, I have, hovv- 



