108 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



classification as have appeared must be carefully studied by all workers in this vast and difficult, 

 but most interesting order. Ashmead divides the Hymenoptera into ten superfamilies, viz., 

 Apuidea, ISphecoideu, Vespuidea, Formicoidea, Proctotrypoidea, Cynipuidea, Chalcidoidea, Ichnen- 

 monoidea, Siricoidea, and Tenthredinoidea. These are subdivided into ninety-four families. The 

 parts of the classification already published are the following ;— (1) The Ichneumonoidea, by 

 tiie United States National Museum (Proc. XXIII., No. 1206), in which over eleven hundred 

 genera are tabulated. (2) The Apoidea, in Trans. Am. Ent. Soc'y., 1899. (3) The Sphecoidea 

 in the Canadian Entomologist for 1899 and (4) The Vespoidea (in part), in the same publica- 

 tion in 1900. The continuation of this most important and satisfactory work will be welcomed 

 by all interested. It is much to be regretted that a lai'ger number of our Canadian entomolo- 

 gists do not devote more attention to the Hymenoptera. Most attractive fields of study, with 

 ample room for original observations, are offered in each superfamily, especially in connection 

 with the social groups of bees, wasps, and ants, as well as in the great complex of parasitic 

 species which play such an imjiortant role in the control of injui'ious insects in all orders. We 

 trust that next year's record may be able to show that some useful work has been performed 

 in this fertile field. 



Among interesting captures mention may be made of the following : — 



BcRns nifjer, Ashm. Reared at Ottawa from a batch of spider's eggs ; 4 males and 20 

 females. (Harrington.) 



Hecahahis lycti, Cresson ; and Hecabalus utilis, Cresson. Reared in large numbers at 

 Ottawa from axe handles infested by the Powder-post Beetle {Lydits unipundatus). The 

 parasites most abundant in June and October. (Fletcher.) 



Abia keiinicotii, Nort. One specimen at Trenton. (Evans.) This is by no means a com- 

 mon insect, although odd specimens are occasionally taken. The pretty white larvae, spotted 

 with yellow and black, may sometimes be found on Honeysuckle. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL RECORD: ORTHOPTERA. 



Contributed by Mr. E. M. Walker. (Toronto.) 



The marked progress that has been made in the study of North American Orthoptera dur- 

 ing the past few years has shown no sign of abatement during the present year, although very 

 little has been done to further our knowledge of the Canadian fauna, nor does the writer know 

 of anyone in the country who is specially interested in this order. It is to be hoped that this 

 state of afiairs will soon pass away, since, owing to the tireless energies of Mr. Scudder, it is 

 now a very simple matter to obtain the literature necessary to a student of the order. Wich 

 Scudder's " Guide to the Classification of N. A. Orthoptera," the " Catalogue of N. A. Ortho- 

 ptera," and the "Index to N. A. Orthoptera," the student should experience little difficulty in 

 arranging his collection. The Index is by far the most important work on N. A. Orthoptera 

 that has appeared during the present year, and too much can hardly be said in its praise. It 

 is absolutely indispensable to the student, and contains remarkably few errors. One feature of 

 this work, particularly, which is one of immense value, is the full list of localities given under 

 each reference. By this means the student can learn accurately the distribution of any species. 



( )f other writings on Orthoptera published during the year, some of the more important 

 are the revisions of several of the smaller genera by Scudder ; a few papers by Morse, such as 

 "New N. A. Orthoptera" (Can. Ent., XXXIII., 129); "The Xiphidiini of the Pacific 

 Coast," (Can. Ent., XXXIII. 201) ; " Revision of the Orthopteran Genus Trimerotro- 

 pis," by J. McNeill (published by U. S. Nat. Mus,), are important papers, in which 24 new 

 species are described ; and "Notes and remarks on Mexican Orthoptera, with descriptions of 

 new species," and other papers, by J. A. G. Rehn. The "Insect Book," by Howard, must 



