—193— 



"fore such families now present the primitive form of five-jointed tarsi. 

 "If however the insect was, as in Longhorns, in the habit of attaching 

 "itself to trees, these would need to be as short and compact as pos- 

 "sible, and hence the fourth joint has disappeared. The subterranean 

 "life oi Hvpocephiilus has simply restored its primitive form." 



Leaving these speculations, we certainly have in Hypocephalus arma- 

 tus a most interesting addition to our knowledge of natural history, in a 

 beede so modified, that at first glance it does not resemble its order at all, 

 and even after fifty years still baffles the attempts of our most learned 

 Entomologists to place it properly in that order. 



To those who are inclined to the theories of evolution, it furnishes 

 once more a striking example of what changes peculiar circumstances can 

 bring about, and of the perfect operation of the processes of Natural 

 Selection. 



Editorial vagaries. 



We have just looked over the back Nos. df Ent. Am. with a feeling 

 of satisfaction at the value of their contents; but vt^e cannot help feeling 

 also that some parts — even the most valuable — are dry; very dry. Science 

 is, by outsiders, supposed to be dry, and Entomology as a science ought 

 necessarily to be dry also. It seems an inevitable deduction that if En- 

 tomology is dry. Entomologists also should suffer from drouth. And 

 perhaps too, that explains the fact we have noticed, that all Entomologi- 

 cal Societies that we have attended, have, without special motion, but 

 with remarkable unanimity, wended their way, after adjournment, to some 

 convenient locality where liquid refreshments were dispensed. When the 

 Brooklyn Ent. Soc. arrives in force, there is always a new keg put up, for 

 science is sometimes very dry indeed, and over the cup that cheers, the 

 lights of our science hold forth to a group of special admirers, and in so- 

 cial chat experiences are exchanged, and much valuable information 

 gained. With Messrs. Edwards, Neumoegen, Hulst,* Graef, Tepper, and 

 other Lepidopterists of note at one end of the table. Dr. Horn, Messrs 

 Julich, Leng, Roberts, Angell etal, Coleopterists, at the other, "ye editor"* 

 oscillating between, the hours fiy unheeded, and, with a sigh of regret, the 

 meeting finally adjourns: each member fuller than before — of Entomo- 

 logical wisdom of course. 



Temperance drinks only! 



