1001.] 47 



aphidivorus is not this species," and he uses the specific name atigulatus, Steph., 

 which is the next ohlcst. Here, tlien, is a diU^mnia. I have not studied the subject, 

 and in continuing to use "aphidivorus" I do so without prejudice, and if I were 

 writing a new inonon;raph of the Brit. Planipennia it is quite possible I should use 

 " angulatics," whicli is certain, according tci the type specimen. — Id. 



Mantis re/ iff iosa, L., naturalised in the State of New York. — Bulletin 185 of the 

 Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (November, 1900) consists of 

 an account hy Prof. Slingerland of the discovery of M. religiosa in considerable 

 numbers near Kochestcr, N.Y. When first discovered in 1899 it was thought to be 

 identical with some species indigenous in the southern States. But as time went on 

 doubts arose, and it was eventually submitted to Mr. Scudder, who traced its 

 identity with the European insect. The species seems quite at home and stands the 

 winter of the State of New York. No one knows exactly how it came there, but the 

 district is a great nursery centre and imports large quantities of plants from Europe, 

 especially from France, so it was probably introduced in that way. As the insect is 

 considered highly beneficial, it is suggested that steps be taken to preserve it, and 

 especially to discourage its capture and destruction hy children. — Eds. 



The pale variety of Bomhus Smithianus, White, in Scotland. — Referring to 

 Mr. E. Saunders's instructive article on this boo in this Magazine for 189G (pp. 275- 

 277), I find that the variety having the hairs on the under-side of the body, and on 

 the legs pale yellow instead of black, is quite a common insect in Scotland, and is 

 the Bombus which has hitherto stood in Scottish collections and lists under the 

 successive specific names of senilis, cognatus, and veniistus. I have compared males 

 taken by myself near Kingussie (Inverness-shire), Aberfoyle (S.W. Perthshire), and 

 Elvanfoot (Lanarkshire), and also specimens from the Perth district, Dumbarton- 

 shire, and Kirkcudbrightshire, kindly sent mc by Messrs. Eodger, Malloch, and 

 Service, with males of typical Smithianus from Shetland, and find them to all 

 appearance identical, which Mr. Saunders, who has been good enough to examine 

 several of them for me, says they undoubtedly are. Besides these males I have 

 females and workers from the same and other localities, which I cannot but regard 

 as belonging to the same form, though the absence of any known structural differ- 

 ence between $ and ? of Smithianus and those of venustiis precludes, in the mean- 

 time, absolute certainty of identification. Specimens clearly, I think, of this form 

 from Scotland were referred by Smith to his senilis (afterwards venustus), for we 

 read in the first edition of his "Catalogue" (p. 215), "Females (of .senilis) from 

 Perthshire are exceedingly bright in colouring," and $ and ? from Moray were so 

 named by him for Dr. Gordon (Scot. Nat., 1887, p. 177). There is no evidence, 

 however, that he ever examined a J . Had he done so the similarity of the "arma- 

 ture " to that of Smithianus is not likely to have escaped his notice. Venustus, as 

 now restricted, seems to be a more southern insect, and the question arises, does it 

 occur in Scotland ? Only the capture of a (J can settle the point conclusively. 

 Now that this pale race of Smithianus is likely to be much in evidence, some dis- 

 tinctive name for it {B. Smithianus, var., or racu, pallidus, say) would be a decided 

 convenience. That the names .lenilis and cognatus are out of court has been clearly 

 explained to me by Mr. Saunders — William Evans, 38, Morningsido Park, Edin- 

 burgh : January H)th, 1901. 



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