220 Journal New York Entomological Society. fVoi. xx. 



handled, two of the original boxes being now placed in glass-covered drawers, 

 with Dr. Leconte's catalogue, containing his key to the colored disks largely 

 used to designate localities. It is regrettable that it was not the custom to 

 designate type specimens in Dr. Leconte's time. Mr. Schaeffer said there was 

 little difficulty for an experienced Coleopterist to recognize the types, though 

 often more than one species as now recognized, will be found under the label. 



To a large extent the Leconte collection is dviplicated in the Horn collec- 

 tion, but in many cases reference to the Leconte types is absolutely necessary 

 to determine closely allied species. Mr. Schaeffer mentioned particularly the 

 species of Helephorus which he compared for Mr. Wintersteiner and Collops 

 for his own work and stated also that one of the results of his visit must be the 

 removal of Platynus si>iuatus from our local lists, all of Dr. Leconte's speci- 

 mens being from far northern localities and not at all like our local insects. 



Mr. Schaeffer's remarks were discussed by Mr. Angell and Dr. Forbes, 

 the latter stating that the field numbers used by Dr. Harris in conjunction 

 with his note books gave the most precise data in regard to his specimens. 



Dr. William T. M. Forbes spoke on " Some Structural Characters in 

 Noctuid Moths," illustrating his remarks by drawings thrown on the screen 

 by the radiopticon, by boxes of specimens and by microscopic slides. The 

 parts of the head, palpi, antennae, the venation of the wings, the hairs of the 

 eyes, the pupal characteristics and other characters were dealt with in an 

 exhaustive manner, not with a view of constructing a dichotomous key, but 

 rather to bring out the true relationship as evidenced by the aggregate of all 

 the characters involved. Dr. Osburn at the close of Dr. Forbes' remarks ex- 

 pressed the gratification of the Society in listening to so able and interesting 

 a treatment of a difficult subject. 



Dr. Forbes's remarks were discussed by Messrs. Schaeffer, Comstock and 

 Dr. Osburn and various additional points respecting the taxonomic value of 

 the lashed eyes, the genitalia, the sculpture of the eggs, the antennal joints 

 were brought out. 



Dr. Raymond C. Osburn spoke of " Our Knowledge of the Larval Stages 

 of Syrphidse," reviewing the published data and illustrating his remarks 

 with the radiopticon. He exhibited specimens of Microdon tristis and its 

 piipal case, Eristalis tenax and pupa, Xanthogramma emarginata, egg and 

 female that laid it, collected by Mr. Davis, and a vial containing larva of 

 Microdon tristis taken by Mr. Davis at Newfoundland, N. J., in ant's nests, 

 commenting upon the similarity to a mollusc which has in fact led to 

 Microdon larvae being described as such. Dr. Osburn's paper will later be 

 published in full. 



Discussion by Messrs. Angell, Engelhardt, Pollard and Schaeffer fol- 

 lowed ; the difficulty of breeding bark species and the work of Burke being 

 alluded to and explained by Dr. Osburn. 



