202 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



since I can frequently determine even dubious specimens of these 

 forms, I can suppose thej^ are not distinct. To such I simply 

 answer that I can discriminate much more readily a pale and black 

 (var. nigrocornutus) segetum ; am I to consider that these Agrotis 

 vars. are therefore more distinct ? The varieties of Apaniea didyma 

 are more easily separable than the varieties of ciirsoria from those 

 of tritici ; the fact, therefore, of being generally able to distinguish 

 them is of no value, although the very fact of the difficulty of 

 separation is sufficient to make us doubt their distinctness. 

 Very few would attempt to devote the time I have to the matter, 

 and I must own that the more I learn about Agrotis tritici and its 

 congeners, the more remains for me to learn, and I still find that 

 the old proverb is as true as ever, that " A little wisdom is a 

 dangerous thing." 



The editor of ' The Entomologist ' having kindly promised to 

 print this in the July and August numbers of that magazine, may 

 I ask the readers of these notes who are at work on the coast, to 

 publish their experience this season with regard to the relation 

 between tritici on the one hand, and cursoria and obelisca on the 

 other ? The Lancashire coast, Welsh coast, Aberdeen coast. Isle 

 of Wight, all have good resident collectors, who could, by an 

 exchange of views, make the most difficult problem we have in 

 our study somewhat clearer than it is at present, I trust they 

 will endeavour to do so. 

 Westcombe Park, S.E. 



PARASITES OF THE HESSIAN FLY. 



By Fred. Enock, F.E.S. 



Last year I had the pleasure of breeding a large number of 

 parasites of the Hessian fly {Cecldomyia destructor, Say), from 

 puparia which I collected in various barley-fields ; four of these 

 appeared to me to agree in every respect with Professor Riley's 

 description of Merisus destructor, Say, which, though recorded as 

 both American and European, had not been identified as occurring 

 in Great Britain. During the month of June I have bred a very large 

 number of parasites, the greatest number being similar in form, 

 colour, and markings to M. destructor, my opinion that it was 

 this species being strengthened by that of Dr. Chas. Lindeman, 

 of Moscow, who had written to Miss E. A. Ormerod, that "along 



