^84 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



fail to be struck with it. I would propose for this form the sub- 

 generic name of Callingiira. To some men it will be a genus ; 

 but as it is only distinguishable by secondary sexual characters 

 of the male, it ought to take a lower rank than a group in which 

 distinctive structural characters occur in both sexes. Mr. 

 Hampson regards I. cristatrix merely as section B. of Ingiira, 

 and therefore does not name it, I think names for these sub- 

 genera or sections are a great convenience. 



I offer these notes, not as a criticism of Prof. Smith's work, 

 but merely as a contribution towards a correct knowledge of 

 North American Lepidoptera. I trust, therefore, that this 

 author, who has done more good work in the group than any of 

 his predecessors, will accept the corrections in the same scientific 

 spirit which prompts me to publish them. 



SOME INMATES OF A DECAYED CHEREY-TREE. 



By C. J. Watkins. 



Twenty years ago, on this tree in our garden here, at the 

 bottom of a Coteswold valley, I used to hang saccharine snares 

 to attract the sweet-loving Lepidoptera. Some time after it was 

 struck by lightning, and soon showed signs of decay. The limbs 

 broke off in the severe giles which occasionally visit us, and for 

 several years the old stamp, some 7 ft. high and 19 in. diameter 

 at its base, supported a metal clothes'-line. For the past three 

 years signs of internal feeders have increased in the quantity of 

 woody debris ejected from some holes in the bark, and, falling on 

 a bed of marjoram growing round the base of the stump, formed 

 a striking contrast to the colour of the herb. Several times I 

 had watched the holes, hoping to see some inhabitant passing in 

 or out, but without success, till Oct. 23rd, 1892, when at midday, 

 in the sun, a Pemphredon appeared and entered one of the 

 burrows. Never having examined the nidus of a fossore, I 

 greatly desired to have the stump removed indoors for careful 

 examination during the winter, but business and ill-health pre- 

 vented this project being carried out. During March, 1893, the 

 top portion broke off' in a high wind, and disclosed such an 

 assemblage of burrows and galleries occupied by insects in 

 various stages of their economy, that I had the old stump cut 

 down, and, after sawing it into suitable blocks, divided each 

 block into portions, placing them in large glass-topped cases, 

 while si^ecial pieces were kept in smaller boxes. The careful 

 cutting up of the stump occupied several hours per day for over 

 a week, but the varied forms of the inmates found, and after- 

 wards bred, was ample reward for the time and pains spent in 

 such interesting observations j and I only regret that more time 



