﻿Sept. 1895.] Davis. Insects at Staten Island, N. Y. 143 



and later in the summer a pupa case was discovered on a black-jack 

 oak, also on sandy ground. 



In 1894 the distribution of the 17-year Cicadas about Old Place 

 meadow was particularly interesting. They were quite rare on the 

 most sandy districts along its southern edge, though abundant in the 

 woods on its eastern margin. It was in this last mentioned place where 

 pupse cones were found on the 8th of April under some boards that 

 did not lie sufficiently close to the ground to prevent their construction. 

 Later these pupae cones were discovered in considerable numbers along 

 Willow Brook, a mile or two away. They were found in the woods 

 under stones, logs and the chips about the stumps of trees cut down in 

 the winter. Many more were without protection of this kind, the cones 

 rising among the dead leaves, occasionally to the height of three inches. 



There has been much written about the periodical Cicada, but it is 

 certainly one of the most interesting of insects, and attracts the atten- 

 tion of all thoughtful persons. In June days in locust year its song 

 sounds like the hum of an ever-busy factory. There is a continuous 

 roar in the trees and the bird notes form but an unimportant part in the 

 melody of nature. If you cease listening to Cicadas, then you may hear 

 the bird's songs, for the singing of the insects is so constant that you 

 may easily forget that it exists. Man writes poems on love, but the 

 male Cicada utters his love song with a greater vim. He is no laggard 

 in love and would please Sir Walter Scott mightily. He lifts his body 

 and calls Phar-r-roah, a song of but a few moments duration, and 

 quickly flies away, for why should he tarry when Chloe comes not ? 

 Thus he flies on the warm days from tree to tree, and mayhap at last 

 meets his red-eyed spouse. 



Thecla acadica was taken June 29th at Greenwood Lake, New 

 Jersey, by Mr, Wm. Sachs. As far as we are aware this is the first 

 record of the occurrence of the species in this vicinity. Catocala coc- 

 cinata was also taken at the same place, and also Phyciodcs nycteis, 

 which appeared in abundance. 



Two specimens of Dichelonycha fiiscula were taken at ^'alley 

 Stream, Long Island, in July. 



Wm. B. 



