1875. 43 



heiglit of 5 — 6 feet from the grouiul, iiisii-iid of at the roots, as is usual. The galla 

 were then quite soft, of a white colour more or less tinged with rod. In one gall I 

 observed a couple of the inquiline, Sj/nercftts incrassatus, dejDosit their eggs. 



Mr. Frederick Smith has recorded a similar occurrence in the case of Biorhiza 

 aplera, another root-frequenting gall-fly. — Id. 



Note on setting small Hymenoptera. — In the somewhat voluminous extract 

 from Dr. Kriechbaumer's account of his method of setting Hymenoptera, which 

 appeared in last month's issue, there are one or two points to which I desire to take 

 exception publicly, lest any one should be induced to enter upon the study of this 

 group of insects under the guidance of this plan, which probably appears easier and 

 less laborious than the process of carding, at least to those who can understand the 

 description given. Without any wish to be captious, I must confess that some sen- 

 tences are by no means clear to myself, but then possibly a perusal of the original 

 document in its entirety might clear up such difficulties as are caused by an abridged 

 translation. The process described by Dr. Krieehbaumer cannot for a moment be 

 admitted as even possible in the case of those minute Hymenoptera {Proctotrupidce 

 and ChalcididcB) which are themselves hardly larger than a pin's point, and Dr. K. 

 appears unaware that in most cases the; thoracic plates are amongst their chief dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics, for these must of course perish if the insect is impaled 

 on a comjiaratively monstrous pole almost the thickness of its body. I think if 

 any one will read Mr. Marshall's account in the Ent. Ann. for 1873, p. 128, he will 

 be convinced that, at least for small and medium-sized insects, no plan is equal to 

 that of carding. 



For large insects, Dr. K.'s plan is doubtless very effective, but I fail to see the 

 superiority which is claimed for it over Mr. Smith's plan ; and in fact I, having 

 practical experience of this latter method, feel convinced that no other plan can 

 display the insects more beautifully or regularly than it. The only difference be- 

 tween the two modes is that Mr. Smith's is possibly more rapid. — A. O. Waed, 13, 

 Lower I'ark Fields, Putney. 



On preserving Hymenoptera, Diptera, <^'c. — The article by Dr. Krieehbaumer, 

 extracted at page 17 of this volume, was, I presume, wi-itten for the es})ecial benefit 

 of continental entomologists, who are more particularly addicted to pinning insects. 

 With British entomologists the case is different. In tliis country, pins are very 

 much more apt to corrode than they are on the continent ; we are therefore under 

 the necessity of employing a method of setting which is adajjtcd lo our climate. 

 The larger Hymenoptera suffer less from pinning than most other orders of insects ; 

 but so great a proportion are very minute, that for these, pinning or even mounting 

 on fine silver wire is a most laborious and unsatisfactory method of displaying them, 

 as compared with setting on card by means of gum tragacanlh ; and, in a very great 

 number, perforation is simply impossible on account of their microscopic size. 

 Several eminent British entomologists have a prejudice against carding which it is 

 difficult to understand, but no objection to it ever comes from those who have had 

 sufficiently long practice at it to be able to set well ; and the longer they are accus- 

 tomed to it, the more they appreciate it for the facility it affords for the critical 

 examination of specimens, as well as the better preservation of them. Bad cai'ding 



