1884.] 171 



[It is very satisfactory to hear of the re-discovery of this species. 

 Dr. Hagen's remark concerning the expanse of wings of the " Dublin 

 specimen " is critical, and to the point. As the specimen is no 

 longer before me, I applied again to Mr. More for information, and 

 the measurement he sends me .(in inches and eighths) can be reduced 

 to 105 mm., showing that " 125 mm." was a typographical error. He 

 says that the specimen shows no trace of having been treated with 

 any preservative on the under-side of the body. The genitalia of the 

 2ud segment are quite concealed. 



Dr. Hagen also sends me notes and sketches of the appendages 

 of his A. speratus, from one of Drege's examples, in his collection. 

 After having subjected the head to the action of boiling water, he 

 thinks that the front and mouth parts may have been originally yel- 

 lowish, excepting the labrum, middle part of labium, and the back of 

 the head, which remain doubtful : the supposed tooth on the excised 

 portion of the superior appendages of the ^ could not be detached 

 after having been subjected to boiling water, and hence cannot be- 

 considered an extraneous substance. In this case, there is sufficient 

 distinctness from A. Butherjordi, in which (as previously said) there 

 is not the slightest trace of such a tooth. 



The catalogue-name, " A. validus" represents my A. Walsinghami, 

 as suspected. To me it appears that the publication of catalogue- 

 names (without descriptions) should be avoided. They carry no 

 weight, and the fact of their publication has frequently a deterrent 

 effect upon workers, who would wish to respect such names if possible. 

 The indication of a " new species," without specific name, seems to me 

 better in those cases in which, from a faunistic, or other, point of 

 view, it is desirable to indicate the existence of " new species " where 

 they cannot be described. The " synonj^my " of Neuroptera in nearly 

 all families is loaded with catalogue-names. " Museum " and " Collec- 

 tion " names are open to the same objection, but in a milder form ; 

 they are comparatively harmless so long as they do not get into 

 circulation ; if the necessity exists for them, they are much better 

 than the publication of names wdth " descriptions " that no one can 

 understand. — E.. McLachlan.] 



Worher wasps in December. — On the 16tli inst., several workers of Vespa vul- 

 garis were observed by me busily engaged at tlie ivy-blossoms in the middle of the 

 day at Osmington, near Weymouth. A fully-winged grasshopper (Stenobothrus) 



was seen a few days previously. — A. E. Eaton, London : December 19ik, 1883. 



P 2 



