1 68 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



When we come to the genus Cistogaster, and find 8 new species, we 

 may well be astonished. This genus has never before been turned up in 

 Mexico, or anywhere in tropical America. Though most numerous in 

 individuals in most parts of the United States, there were heretofore but 

 3 species to be distinguished, and these might easily all be considered but 

 forms of a single variable species Bearing this in mind, we are wholly 

 unprepared for such a sudden increase in the number of species, and may 

 well doubt their validity. With the single exception of the first species 

 (C. riificornis), they are probably all referable to the three already known 

 species. From the description of C. nificomis, I cannot resist the con- 

 clusion that Mr. van der Wulp has mistaken Gymnosoma filiola, Li v., for 

 a Cistogaster. 



Of course it is difficult, and to a certain extent uncertain, to judge of 

 these forms from the brief diagnoses alone that have so far appeared. 

 For this reason I feel called upon to delay the publication of Part I. of 

 the Monograph of North American Tachinidse, referred to in Psyche, Jan., 

 1893, until the Biologia supplement appears giving fuller descriptions of 

 these species with drawings. 



If any of the above comments prove to be erroneous in their conclu- 

 sions, I shall be most happy to amend them. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE GRUBS OF CHRYSOMELA 



EXCLAMATIONIS. 



BY C. H. TYLER TOWNSEND. 



This species is quite common in New Mexico, where it feeds on the 

 native sunflower ( Helianthus sp.). On August 7, 1892, at Belen, N. 

 Mex., I found the native Helianthus annum badly infested with the 

 adults and numerous light green grubs of this species, which were eating 

 the leaves extensively. From these grubs the following description is 

 drawn : — 



Larva (about full grown). — Length, 5^ to 7 mm. ; greatest 

 width, 4 to 4^ mm. ; greatest thickness, 3 to 3^ mm. ; width 

 of prothoracic segment, 2 to 2^ mm.; of head, lyi mm. Colour 

 wholly light green, except head and legs, which are slightly 

 tinged with brownish ; eyes, antennae and jaws, brown. Shape 

 subpyriform, curvate, very strongly convex dorsally ; slightly concave 

 ventrally in lateral profile, but a little convex in longitudinal profile ; 



