22S [March, 



Tachys (common) in a salt marsh, and three or four species near Anehomenus (I 

 think of the actual genus, others probably Di/scolus) occurring, the Anehomenus 

 commonly under stones up one mountain (not seen on any other), the rest beaten 

 from leaves of trees in woods on mountain summits. Notwithstanding frequent use 

 of the water-net, I have not yet seen a single species of Rydradepliaga, but have got 

 two or three Philhydrida. Brachelytra are a little less rare, among them being 

 what I cannot separate from Creophilus maxiUosus. The rest (excepting PhilontJd) 

 are small Aleocharidce and OxytelidfB, ThlcBocharida and Piestidce. Necrophaga seem, 

 I think, the prevailing Coleoptera, chiefly small, and connected with decaying wood ; 

 among them are a few Epurcea (?) and Histeridce. Species near Carpophilus are in 

 the greatest number; some of these so remarkably simulate the appearance of 

 Somalium that I hardly know which to call them. Probably there are new genera 

 among them. Lamellicornes, so far as I have seen, are represented hj Aphodius and 

 cognate genera only, and in small numbers. EucnemidcB (only one, a rather nice 

 insect) ; BuprestidcB, none as yet ; ElateridcB, three or four species, — all very 

 pretty, — one,a magnificent Chalcolepidiiis (?), nearly two inches long; Malacodermata, 

 a few Malthodes and allied species, — all small ; Bostrychidce, several fine things ; a 

 few Cis, Anolimn, &c. ; Heteromera, a few species near Ilelops and Heliopalhes, 

 also an Anthicus, and my old friends TriboUum ferrugineum and Gnathoeerus 

 coriiutus ; Rhyncopliora not very common, only one or two above average size ; the 

 rest chiefly Cryptorhynchidce, Cossonidce, a,n(i HyleshiidcB ,- Longicornes, & {ew verj 

 fine insects; Prionus, Lamia (the grandest thing I ever met with), Saperda (?), 

 Leptura, and some others ; Eupoda, none ; Pseudo-trimera, a few CoccineUcE 

 and Scymiii. 



There are a good many Orthoptera, chiefly eai'wigs and cockroaches, in con- 

 siderable variety ; a fair number of Hymenoptera, including some nasty-looking 

 ■wasps ; too many Diptera of the mosquito type ; a moderate allowance of Semiptera 

 (some very striking) ; and many Lepidoptera (though I have only seen two 

 species of butterfly — a large Papilio, and one which I have identified as Vanessa 

 Kamehameha, Kotz.). I am collecting insects of- all orders in what little time 

 I have.— Tnos. Blacebtjrn, Honolulu : mth December, 1876. 



The insects of the American f" Polaris "J Arctic Expedition. — The reports of the 

 scientific results of the Polaris expedition have been delayed simply, we are sorry to 

 say, for want of means for publication. Dr. Bessels, the scientist of the expedition, 

 made valuable collections of animal life at Polaris Bay, between latitudes 81'' 20' 

 and 81° 50' N., and soon after his return placed in the writer's hands the insects and 

 fresh-water Crustacea. Now that the English expedition has returned, it is deemed 

 expedient to publish a preliminary notice in order to secui-e priority. The Jlymeno- 

 ptera were represented by Bomhts Kirbyellus, Curtis, which occurred at Polaris Bay, 

 May 31 st and July 10th, and a new species, apparently, of an ichneumon fly, 

 Microgasier Ballii, found in cocoons at Polaris Bay in June and again July 4th. 



Of Lepidoptera, Laria Rossii, a moth closely allied to our Dasychira, was 

 obtained in all stages from the egg to the imago. The eggs are spherical, smooth, 

 and white, 0.06 inch long, and laid in a mass of about sixty, and, as in Orgyia, upon 

 the cocoon. 1 lie larva when half-grown is broad and short, the body, including the 

 haii-s, measuring 0.6U inch in length and 0.30 in fciradth. The body is densely covered 



