44 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Voi. xvii. 



thrown oft' the round cap of the puparium aud had proceeded along the tunnel to the 

 door. This is what was observed in the several instances of the actual escape from 

 the gall ; the door was suddenly ruptured and thrust aside, and presently there ap- 

 peared at the opening a moist, contorted, globular mass which slowly oozed through, 

 followed by the head of the fly, and in a short time, by its entire body. This soft 

 mass was the ptilinum, situated on the front, nearly as large as the head itself, giving 

 the insect a very grotesque appearance. If the fly was undisturbed this was rapidly 

 contracted, and soon entirely disappeared into the head through the suture just above 

 the base of the antenna;. After observing this action, probably in three instances, 

 when the next opportunity occurred, as soon as the fly was free, Dr. Zabriskie 

 dropped it into a cyanide bottle. The killing was quite rapid but not completed 

 before about two thirds of the ptilinum had been retracted into the head. This iden- 

 tical specimen was exhibited, with the ptilinum still further reduced in size by drying 

 during its long stay in the cabinet. The gall of this species, together with two speci- 

 mens of the fly, were also exhibited. 



Mr. Carl Schaefi'er exhibited a collection of nearly a hundred species of Alaskan 

 beetles collected and sent to him by his brother. He remarked that only two or 

 three of the species were rare, and spoke concerning the distribution of a few of the 

 species. 



Mr. George W. Angell exhibited .specimens of Lacfmosterna cribrosa from Mex- 

 ico, sent to him by Mr. Schaupp, and anew species of Tyni/arh from Key West, Florida. 



Society adjourned. 



Meeting of November 3, 1908. 



Held at the American Museum of Natural History at 8.15 P. M., President C. 

 W. Leng in the chair, with 'six members and one visitor present. The minutes of 

 the preceding meeting were read and approved. 



Mr. Barber proposed as an active member Mr. Christian E. Olsen, I Jefterson 

 Ave., Maspeth, L. I. On motion of Mr. Davis the by-laws were suspended and 

 the secretary instiucted to cast a single ballot for the election of Mr. Olsen. 



Mr. Leng exhibited specimens of Gribuyitis sctiteUaris, decora/us, larvatus, 

 montezuma and lecontei. He quoted descriptions by Suffrian and other authors 

 showing that decora t us should be added to our lists. In regard to G. equestris OHv. 

 he remarked that no exact locality is given by Olivier or by Suffrian ; that no insect 

 from America corresponds to the description, and that it possibly is not from this 

 country. 



As Mr. Schaeffer was absent his paper was postponed till the next meeting. 



Mr. William T. Davis exhibited a collection of ten specimens of Xiphidium 

 from the eastern United States, four of which are to be found in the vicinity of New 

 York city. He called particular attention to a series X. sirictwn collected by him- 

 self and Mr. L. B. Woodruff" at Arrocar, Staten Island. Most of the females found 

 had wing pads only ; a few had long tegmina and wings extending beyond the hind 

 femora ; but two or three examples showed wings and tegmina of intermediate 

 length. The ovipositor, which is very long in this species, also shows some varia- 

 tion in amount of curvature. 



Mr. H. G. Barber exhibited a collection of Hemiptera taken during the past 

 summer in the vicinity of Cascade Lakes, Adirondack Mountains. He remarked 



