T1U' < ACADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. I t9 



Cecidomyia and of another Tineian) in acorns of Quercus ilidfolia which 



were still on the tree, and which were infested with a little pip-like gall, 



between the acorn and the cup.* 



To one who has watched with interest, the writings of Messrs. 



Scudder, Lintner, and Edwards on Grapta inter rogationis, Fabr., the article 



by the latter gentleman on page 70, is extremely gratifying. From 



the fact, that in Europe, Grapta C-attmm shows three very distinct 



variations, and from my own breeding experience with intcrrogationis, I 



felt convinced that the black-winged and red-winged forms were but 



varieties of the one species, and so informed Mr. Lintner, over a year 



ago. I am glad Mr. Edwards has anticipated me in demonstrating it in 



print. Such facts ought to give impetus to the rearing of insects ; for 



though the artificial method of making species out of every little individual 



variation may be very amusing to those who choose to indulge in it, yet 



such work will never give us a natural system, and much of it will have to 



be undone by subsequent investigators who acquaint themselves with the 



Adolescent as well as the perfect forms of a species. 



G. V. Riley; 



St. Louis. Sept., 10th, 1871. 



How to Preserve Ephemerid/e. — In drying, the color and form of 

 Ephemerida: soon change. Color is of little importance, even in fresh 

 examples ; but form is necessary to the distinguishing of the species. 

 They are, therefore, best preserved in a liquid. It is sufficient for ordinary 

 purposes to dip the fresh killed specimen into diluted spirits, and then 

 transfer it to a tube, or homoeopathic globule bottle, partly filled with 

 water. Next, Price's glycerine is added to the water — one or two drops a 

 day — until the bottle is gradually rilled. A small drop of acetic acid may 

 be added finally, to prevent the growth of mould. The name of the 

 species may be written on the disk of the cork, the date and locality of 

 capture round its side. Hind wings of the species of Baetis and Centrop- 

 tilum should be mounted on slips of grass, for microscopical examination. 

 Pinned specimens are often difficult to determine, in consequence of their 

 shrinking: to card them is to render them fit for nothing.— Eaton's 

 Ephemeiida', 



* This little gall is undescribed. In company with Mr. H. F. Bassett, of Water- 

 bury, Ct., I found it so abundant last month, that the acorns were very generallv 

 destroyed. Strange as it may appear, from observations made by Mr. Bassett, this gall 

 will, in all probability, prove to be but the summer form of the wooly gall known as 

 quercus operator — so little do we know yet of some of Nature's secrets ! 



