114 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



antigaster vs. eupelmus. 

 Dear Sir, — 



I have read with interest Mr. Howard's remarks on p. 31, ,^ In the 

 article in the American Entomologist which he refers to, I stated distinctly 

 that he gives reasons for considering Antigaster and Eupelimis synonym- 

 ous, and, as I consider the reasons good, I have no criticism to make 

 thereon. My remarks were intended to show rather that his reflection on 

 Walsh that there were " no grounds for the founding of the genus Anti- 

 gaster " was hardly justified. I endeavored to show that with the light 

 then at his command Walsh had reasons for erecting the genus. The 

 characters of E^ipelmiis as set forth by Mr. Howard are mostly brought 

 together from works subsequent to Walsh's characterization of Antigaster. 

 The close relationship of -this last v/ith Eitpelmus was recognized by me 

 as previously stated by Mr. Howard, and whether, in the light of subse- 

 quent writings, the two should be combined generically is a question 

 depending on the limitation or comprehensiveness we deem best to give 

 to generic divisions, on which subject I have no reason for differing from 

 my friend who, from special study of the family, is most competent to 

 decide. C. V. Riley, Washington, D. C. 



HOW WE CAPTURED A HORNET'S NEST. 



Dear Sir, — 



One fine day last October, while enjoying a ramble in the woods near 

 Belleville, with two of my sons, one of them took hold of a knot which 

 projected from a small half-decayed log, intending to turn it over to search 

 for beetles beneath it. The piece, however, came away in his hand and 

 disclosed the entrance of a nest of black hornets. Of course we retreated 

 " at the double " before the disturbed insects recovered from their first 

 surprise, leaving them to settle down at their leisure. A few days after, 

 taking advantage of a cool morning, I sent my two boys to the wood with 

 a small bottle of chloroform and a hard rubber syringe. According to 

 directions, they injected about a drachm of the liquid into the hole, and 

 threw a handkerchief over the entrance. In about five minutes they 

 opened up the nest, when they found the inmates in a perfect state of 

 slumber, and transferred them without trouble to their cyanide bottles. 

 In about an hour they returned, bringing me forty-eight specimens of the 

 insect J. T. Bell. 



