252 THE entomologist's record. 



work. The United States is suffering from imported European insects^ 

 some of which have found their way Avitli transported plants, others 

 through the opportunities afforded by the immense steamer traffic 

 between the Continents. There is not a particle of doubt that the 

 intensity of life in America acts favourably upon imported European 

 insects, and that they multiply excessively. Scudder says that the 

 number of broods increases so that lepidoptera which are monogoneutic 

 in Europe become polygoneutic in the United States. The rapidity 

 with which the White Cabbage Butterfly has spread over North 

 America, on its accidental escape in commercial harbours from 

 vegetables used on passenger steamers, is something magical. Another 

 pest has appeared about New York, the Leopard moth, Znizera jn/rina 

 (acsculi), and bids fair to become a dangerous nuisance. Immunity from 

 parasites may at first contribute to aid the spread of European insect 

 pests, Avhile the vegetation and congenial climate assist their 

 propagation. According to the latest theory, the P/ii/llo.nra was known 

 to the ancient Greeks, and would be hence of European origin, so 

 that it seems as though x\merican insects have not met with the same 

 amount of success in Europe as European immigrants in America. 

 The late Dr. C. V. Riley asserted that destructive insects introduced 

 from America into Europe make no headway against their more 

 " highly developed " allies on that Continent, while the reverse is true 

 of European pests introduced into America. Scudder opposes the 

 idea that the more specialised European types, on that account, 

 succeed in America, but it appears to me that Riley's view is also 

 entitled to consideration. At first sight it seems to have been suggested, 

 by the result attained by the white as against the red race of the 

 human species on American soil, but it may well be that the types of 

 insects which have spread are specialised types, although no 

 investigations on this head are known to me. While no American 

 lepidoptera appear to have gained a natural foothold in Europe, we 

 have in America, Picrifi rajiae, Purthetria dUpar , Sesiatijiuliforviis, Zeuzera 

 pyrina{aesculi), all of which have been imported, and of all, except the 

 Sesia, we have historical record. T am inclined to think that other 

 species, which have not yet excited attention by their numbers, have 

 been imported through commerce, or introduced by enterprising 

 collectors. I congratulate the authors of the valuable report on the 

 Gypsy moth upon their industry, and the results they have to show for 

 work accomplished. As to the name which Prof. Fernald gives to 

 the insect, it is unquestionably correct. The species is the type of 

 Porthetria, and is generically distinct from L)/))iantria wonarha. The 

 oldest name for the family is Ihjiiniiijmnae, Hiibner, 1806, which I 

 have changed to lli/pniij/innUac with the type //. moria. — A. Radcliffe 

 Grote, M. a., Roemer Museum, Hildesheim. [We would add our heartiest 

 congratulations to the authors of this work. It is impossible to 

 summarise such a comprehensive work, or to do justice to its excellence, 

 by a cursory review. We advise our readers to press the Societies 

 with which they are connected to write to the learned Professor of 

 Zoology in the Massachusetts Agricultural College, U.S.A., for a copy, 

 and we would appeal to the generosity of the authors to see that at 

 least The Entomological Society of London, The City of London 

 Entomological Society, and the South London Entomological Society, 

 have copies. — Ed.] 



