—179— 



which when the animal is dead comes forth by the dozen and flies away". A para- 

 sitic Tineid is certainly a curiosity. 



P. 699, No. 35. Speaking of birds of the genus Cacicus, several of which in- 

 habit Guiana, he says "Very remarkable are their friendly relations with several 

 species of Pciistes, well known to the Indians and negroes. The nests of these birds 

 are never seen without a nest of these wasps in the immediate vicinity —sometimes so 

 near that the bird when entering its own nest, touches the combs of the wa-ps, which 

 are not at all disturbed by this proceeding; but they vigorously resist any attempt to 

 disturb the birds' nests. I know three species which are thus friendly with these birds". 



* * 



The new Check List of Hemiptera Heteroptefa will be ready for distribution to- 

 ward the end of the present month. It will make about 30 pages, and will cost 50 

 Cents per copy. Subscriptions to be sent to the Editor, at the National Museum, 

 Washington, DC. 



-*'^^B>- 



Book Notices. 



List of the Coleoptera of America, North of Mexico. By Samuel Henshaw. 

 Philadelphia. American Entomological Sweety. Roy. 8vo pp. 161. Oct. 1885. 

 We have received this publication, and are heartily glad to see it. M-. 

 Henshaw has earned the gratitude of every American Coleopterist, and we doubt not 

 he will receive it. But the Am. Ent. Soc. has also done its part, and has furnished 

 us with a book that for quality of paper, neatness and accuracy of typography, seeks 

 its equal. There are 9258 species numbered, representing those forms known to 

 American students. Species not yet identified are left without a number, and we 

 regret to say there are quite a large number of them. Every Coleopterist should have 

 at least two copies. 



Society News. 



Brooklyn Entomological Society. November 3d, 1885. — Twenty-four 

 persons present; Mr. Cramer, the President, in the chair. Messrs. W. B. Tay- 

 lor, Chas. Scott and Chas. Palm were elected members of the society. 



Mr. Smith read a paper on "Cosmosoma omphale," * illustrated by black- 

 board sketches, describing a peculiar secondary sexual character, of the tf, 

 noted at a previous meeting. Mr. Hy. Edwards exhibited the pupa and cocoon 

 of the same insect, the latter of which is fine, rather loose, and of a bright lemon 

 yellow. In response to a question, he stated that the larva was tufted, and 

 somewhat Arctia form and he rather agreed with Mr. Butler that there ought to 

 be a group Ardio-zygamida; to which such species as this might belong as they 

 had characters common to both groups. Mr. Smith illustrated the agreement 

 of Cosmosoma with some of the Bombytida; in genital structure, and stated, 

 that, while undoubtedly strongly Bombycid in character, yet there were peculi- 

 arities enough to put this species in the Syntomoidee. It is certainly not it 

 Zygcenid. Prof. Riley remarked on the peculiarity of the position of this 

 structure. It had, he believed, the purpose of attracting the 9 ftn d he thought 

 that a rivalry might exist among males — he credited insects with sufficient 

 psychic development to believe that the 9 might exercise choice in the matter 



* Which will be published in the next number. 



