44 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



act of oviposition, I think I iHcay venture to record the species 

 asj Irish. 



[Pygara anachoreta, Fb. — Mr. Burchall turned out the larvae 

 of this moth at Howth, but apparently the attempt to plant the 

 species has resulted in failure.] 



Pyg^ra pigra, Hufn. — Very widely distributed, and abun- 

 dant, but easily overlooked. Irish and Perth examples seem to 

 be of a richer coloration than EngKsh. I have taken the larvae 

 and bred the imago from the following localities: — Buncrana 

 and Cloghan near Stranorlar, Co. Donegal ; shores of L. Conn, 

 Co. Mayo ; Favour Eoyal, Tyrone ; Killynon, and Cromlyn 

 {Mrs.B.), Westmeath; Mohill, Co. Leitrim; Kenmare {Miss V.), 

 Co. Kerry; Newcastle (IF.), Co. Down; near Gahvay, abun- 

 dant [A.). 



(To be continued.) 



REMARKS ON CERTAIN GENERA OF COCClDAi. 

 By W. M. Maskell. 



The study of Coccids is extending, and new workers are 

 entering the field every day, so that ere long this greatly 

 neglected family of insects will receive all the attention which it 

 certainly merits. There exists still, on account of the careless 

 way in which entomologists until late in this century discussed 

 specimens which came in their way, and also of the very frag- 

 mentary and unintelligent descriptions of species given, a good 

 deal of confusion in Coccid classification. The time has nearly, 

 if not already, arrived when a monograph of all known Coccids, 

 embodying a proper synopsis and sequence of genera and 

 species, can be advantageously undertaken : and, after twenty 

 years' study of the family, I have ventured to take some 

 preliminary steps towards such a monograph, in the hope that 

 health and time may permit me to complete it. 



Meanwhile, I find it necessary to draw attention to a few 

 points in classification, and to endeavour to clear up some con- 

 fusion which seems to have arisen on various points. There are 

 persons who despise classification, calling systematizers mere 

 mechanical catalogue-makers ; and certainly there seems to be 

 some little justification for this, in cases where authors have 

 multiplied species recklessly, founding them on single or im* 

 perfect specimens or insufficient characters. Sometimes, of 

 course, one specimen may be found as to which there can be no 

 shadow of a doubt, and which may properly be separated from 

 ELll others. But the man who habitually erects new species, and 

 even new genera, to suit trivial features of a single specimen 

 collected by him or sent to him, ought to be scouted and " sent 



