June, 1901.J Proceedings of the Society. 95 



Mketing of May 7, 1901. 



Held at tlie American Museum of Natural History. Seven members present. 

 Mr. Beutenmuller proposed Messrs. Thomas O'Connor and E. Irving Hunting- 

 ton, both of New York, for active membership. 



Mr. Beutenmuller recommended that the sum of $25.00 be appropriated for the 

 purpose of soliciting members for the society. On motion this sum was allotted for 

 this purpose. The following amendment to the by-laws was offered : That IH, sec- 

 tion 4, should read as follows : Any person may, by the payment of fifty dollars in 

 lieu of annual dues, become a life-member, in payment of one hundred dollars become 

 a patron and in payment of five hundred dollars become a patron. 



Mr. Beutenmuller spoke on the introduction of the Chinese Mantid, Tenodera 

 sinensis at Mt. Airy, Pa. He stated while on a visit to Mr. Laurent at that place, he 

 had picked off a tree an egg-mass of this species, which very much resembles a cocoon 

 of Telea polyphemus. He further stated that Mr. Laurent had subsequently found the 

 egg-masses in abundance. Mr. Beutenmuller also stated that he had liberated over 

 one hundred young T. sinensis at Fort Lee, N. J., and that he had failed to raise them 

 in captivity, owing to the want of proper fcod. 



The following Lepidoptera, presented by Mrs. Slosson, and to be sold at auction 

 for the benefit of the JOURNAL, were exhibited. Anaa portia, Eunica tatila, Eiida- 

 mus ZL'stos, E. batabano, Pamphila ethliiis, Tliecla martialis, Pergesia thorates, Sphittx 

 canadensis, Dilophonota caicus, Cauteilna grotei, Alypia wittfeldii, Biiriia bela, Com- 

 posiafidelissinia, Syntomia epilais, Eiicluetes abdominalis. Scepsis edwardsii, Etthalis- 

 idota longa, Halisidota cindipes, Ecpantheria scribonia var. denudata, Lagoa pyxidi- 

 fera, Lagoa opercularis, Hyper die ria lilith, Hypa>pax aiiristriata, etc. 



On motion of Mr. A. C. Weeks a vote of thanks was extended to Mrs. Slosson 

 for her generous donation. 



Mr. A. C. Weeks read the following paper : " Suggestions for Collecting Insects 

 with Least Injury." The true collector studied to preserve his captures as perfectly 

 as possible. The more perfect a specimen the more valuable and attractive was it for 

 cabinet purposes as well as more capable of accurate identification. Lepidoptera by 

 reason of their fragility required more care than insects of other orders. The principal 

 situations of capture were in the field, at light or sugar and when bred. In the field 

 he recommended the use of one jar for killing and any other jar for storing, in which the 

 specimens folded in paper could be packed. Among these papered specimens any of 

 those of the other orders unpapered could be placed after killing. This method seemed 

 on the whole preferable to the use of collecting boxes which were objectionable on ac- 

 count of inaccuracy in pinning, exposure to injury and liability of insect to revive, be- 

 sides being cumbersome to carry, while on the other hand specimens in stone jars 

 could be pinned with care or relaxed at leisure, were never exposed to light or air 

 currents and could not revive. The storing jar answered a double purpose, not only 

 for storing, but if required, of killing as well — also insects papered and firmly secured 

 in stone jars relieved the collector from any solicitation as to his movements. At light 

 and sugar, where numbers of insects were taken in rapid succession and papering was 

 impossible or inconvenient, it would be found advisable to have large storing jars sta- 

 tioned at short intervals into which the captures could be transferred. Separate jars 

 should be carried for larger specimens and those likely to cause injury by their spiny 



