oO THE (JA^vAUlAM KNTOAIOLOGIST. 



species are all from a few localities in Eastern Ontario and Quebec, so 

 that the Dominion as a whole has been ])ractically unworked. The three 

 western species are Mesit'ncs Vancouver ensis and Polymecus vancoiiverensis, 

 collected by the Rev. G. W. Taylor, of Victoria (and communicated 

 through the writer to Mr. Ashmead), and Anteoji pit?icticeps,\.akQVi by Mr. 

 Wickham. 



Although the Proctotrypids are all small, and frequently microscopic, 

 they show great variations in structure, and their study thus becomes very 

 interesting. A large proportion of them are egg-parasites, while others 

 prey upon Aphididie, Cecidomyidfe, etc. In many species (noticeably in 

 the stib-family Bethylinse) the females differ largely from the males in the 

 shape of the head, antennae and structure generally. Those of the sub- 

 family Dryininee have remarkable chelate, or pincer-like claws, on the 

 anterior feet, which are probably for more firmly grasping, during oviposi- 

 tion, the small, active homopterous insects on which the larvae are 

 parasitic. Many forms are wingless or have very rudimentary wings, but 

 they are, nevertheless, very nimble little atoms, and can leap many times 

 their own length. 



As the appearance of Mr. Ashmead's splendid mnncgraph may stimu- 

 late some of our members to the collection and study of these insects, it 

 may be stated that a considerable number of the species, such as Breus, 

 etc., may be obtained even in winter by sifting moss as is done for small 

 coleoptera. This habit of hibernating in the moss of swampy localities is 

 another feature (not mentioned by the author) which separates them from 

 the other hymenoptera known to me, with the exception, perhaps, of ants, 

 which are also occasionally obtained in sifting. W. H. H. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



SVNCHLOE LACINIA, ABERR. RUFESCENS. 



I had intended to withdraw this name, lest the form to which it refers 

 might be one of those already named as a species ; but now that it has 

 been published by Mr. Edwards (Vol. XXV., p. 287), it will be useful to 

 define its precise application. The original specimen was described by me as 

 follows : — Bands ochre strongly suffused with orange above and below ; 

 bands on upper side of hind-wings broad, orange, reaching to the row of 

 white spots j outer row of spots on both wings unusually large ; band on 

 upper side of fore-wings practically continuous. Size, rather small. 

 Juarez (not Juarey), Mexico, Aug. 26. 



T. D. A. COCKERELL, 



Las Cruces, New Mexico, Nov. 13th, 1893. 



Mailed January 15th. 



