212 [February, 



My other observation refers to the delicate subject of monogamy v. polygamy 

 among insects. Mr. Butler's instance is hardly to the point, as his female proved 

 sterile, and previous observations — as in the case of Peridea trepida, have shown 

 that sterility may be the cause (or consequence) of repeated, and of course imperfect, 

 union. But some years ago I had a lot of moths from silkworms (Bombyx morij 

 that the children bad been rearing, and it occurred to me to subject them to a series 

 of experiments. The result was that I found that each perfect male mated four, 

 five, or even six times in the course of its short life, and the females each four or 

 five times, and in all cases, even those of old males mated with recently emerged 

 females, the eggs proved fertile. The rule appeared to be that union took place 

 before the deposition of each separate batch of eggs. 



I am fully prepared to admit that the habits of a moth reduced to so abnormal 

 a state as to have lost the power of flight by domestication, cannot be held to be 

 illustrative of those of species in a natural state, but I also think that such a creature 

 possesses only an exaggeration of the habit and capabilities of the species when at 

 large, and that there is little danger of female insects in a state of nature remaining 

 sterile through the casual circumstance of a diminished proportion of males. — 

 Charles G. Barrett, Pembroke : December 9th, 1880. 



Notes on Hymenoptera near Worcester in 1880 — Notwithstanding that the 

 spring came in early and fine, the solitary Acideata were very few in both species 

 and individuals, and continued so throughout the year. Even Bombi and Apathi 

 were much scarcer than in 1879; but Vespa vulgaris, V. germanica, and V. 

 sylvestris were about as common as usual. 



The galls of some species of Cynipides were commoner than in any year since 

 1876; e. g., Dryophanta folii, J), dicisa, and JD. longiverdris : the last more 

 numerous than I ever before witnessed. Galls of Biorhiza renum, which I vainly 

 sought for since 1876, were again found. 



The year seemed to be very favourable to some of the Tenthredinidce. Among 

 the species that turned up in the imago state in unusual numbers I may mention 

 Tenthredo mesomela, Tenthredopsis nassata, and Taxonus glabratus. Among larvse, 

 Hemichroa alni and Crcesus septentrionalis were strikingly plentiful on all their food- 

 plants. Nematus ribesii, larva and imago, was most abundant. "When walking among 

 some market gardens at the end of July, I noticed hundreds of gooseberry bushes 

 standing bare of leaves, and presenting a most desolate sight. — J. E. Fletcher, 

 Happy Land, Worcester: November, 1880. 



Notes from Guatemala. — Since my last notes from San Gerdnimo, I have twice 

 visited the Polochic "Valley, working down to the lake of Isabal ; travelled over a great 

 deal of the Alta, or northern part of Vera Paz, visiting Cahabdn, Lanquin, Rio 

 Chicoy, the Poban District, the Sinanja Valley, Senahu, and nearly to the depart- 

 ment of Peten. At the end of July I started for Los Altos and the Pacific slopes, 

 travelling from San Gerdnimo, by way of Rabinal, Cubulco, Joyabaj, and Quiche. 

 I spent about a fortnight in the mountains of Sotonicajan, working up to nearly 

 11,000 ft. : then went to Quezaltenango, and from thence to the Pacific slopes of the 

 volcano Zunil and Santa Maria, gradually working lower, till at last I arrived within 



