41 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Mexican Lepidoptera. — I am anxious to state at once, that in my paper on 

 Mexican Lepidoptera (Papilio, Vol. IV, page ii), I have redescribed a species 

 of Messrs. Grote and Robinson. 



Ecpantheria iejie/Ia, mihi, is = E. Icucarctioides, G. and R. 



A typographical error also occurs, page ii, line 7, in which zVwpossible is 

 printed for possible, thus entirely altering my meaning. Hv. Edwards. 



A New Entomological Society. — At a meeting to which the entomologists 

 of Washington and Baltimore were invited, held at the house of Dr. C. V. Riley, 

 in Washington, D. C, on the ev-ening of 29th February, 1884, and presided over 

 by Rev. Dr. John G. Morris, of Baltimore, a resolution was unanimously adopted 

 to establish an entomological society in Washington and vicinity, and a com- 

 mittee was appointed to draw up the necessary regulations and to call a future 

 meeting for organization. 



Washington, D. C. March i, 1884. R. Pickman Mann, Sec'y. 



Killing Large Lepidoptera. — I have for many years killed large Lepid- 

 optera {Bombycidcr, Sphingidc^, etc. ) by hypodermic injection after the fashion 

 indicated by Mr. Blake, but long since discarded cyanide of potassium for car- 

 bolic acid and creosote, the preservative action of these and the protection they 

 afford from parasites being manifest advantages. Either causes instant or nearly 

 instant death, or its equivalent, by producing complete paralysis of the thoracic 

 muscles without the troublesome rigor induced by cyanide. Even injections of 

 chloroform, however, are not always sufficient to prevent muscular action in the 

 abdomens of females of the larger species for considerable time, but as the 

 operation undoubtedly induces complete insensibility, and such specimens are 

 usually eviscerated at once, this is not an objection. 



Those who do not po.s.sess hypodermic syringes can make an efficient appa- 

 ratus for this purpose by drawing one of the slender glass tubes (known as 

 "glass straws") to a point over a gas jet. If this is done in the middle of the 

 tube a moment's labor with file and forceps will make two slender-pointed 

 "blow-pipes" by means of which the poison can be introduced, this being 

 effected by simply placing the pointed end in the liquid and placing the finger 

 over the other orifice, lifting two or three drops /;/ the pipe, inserting the point 

 in the thorax of the victim and blowing into the open end. 



C. E. Worthington. 



Mr. Strecker's Collection. — During a recent visit to Reading I had an 

 opportunity to inspect this remarkably rich collection for the third time. In it 

 I had the pleasure of seeing three fine specimens of Papilio Antimachiis, Drury, 

 among them the " giant" once in the cabinet of Mr. Chapman; this is believed 

 to be the largest specimen in collections, and was the third specimen captured; 

 it measures within a fraction of 10 inches in expanse. The other specimens 

 measure 8 "4 and 8^4: inches respectively. Mr. Strecker informed me that "the 

 first Autjjiiachus cost Mr. Hewitson not ^20, but over ^200, as I had from him- 

 self at the time." 



Among other rarities 1 noticed a finely preserved type-specimen of Co/ias 

 Booihii, taken by the Ross E;xpedition in 1829. It is a r?^ of the var. Chione, 



