294 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



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Platj'psylla Castoris. 



family of the Aphaniptera, equivalent in value to the Pulicidae, 

 i.e., dipterous. Westwood thought it 

 to be a type of a new order of insects, 

 the Achveioptera. Dr. Le Conte, — and 

 we are fortunate in having in our 

 country one who easily leads the ranks 

 of Coleopterists, — after a hasty ex- 

 amination, regarded the insect as 

 coleopterous, a conclusion confirmed 

 ^" by further careful study, the results of 

 which are presented in the beautiful 

 paper before us. In this singular in- 

 sect the body is long-oval, flattened, 

 spiny on the exposed portions, re- 

 sembling at first sight a minute cock- 

 roach, and of the same colour. The 

 wing-covers are small, not longer than 

 the prothorax, and the head is nearly semicircular; the eyes 

 entirely wanting; the antennae nine-jointed, clavate; the 

 maxillae large, with four-jointed palpi; the mentum large; 

 the ligula broad ; and the labial palpi short and three- 

 jointed ; while the labrum is peculiar. After comparing this 

 beetle with those of other families, the author decides that 

 ' the affinities of this insect are very composite, but all in the 

 direction of the Adephagous and Clavicorn series, though 

 chiefly with the latter. The most convenient position of the 

 family will probabl}^ be between Hydrophilidae and Leptinidae 

 as the families are now arranged, though its tendency to 

 Trichopterygidae and Corylophidae is equally strongly mani- 

 fested. It is, therefore, a very peculiar and extraordinary 

 synthetic type, which is almost equally in and out of place in 

 any linear arrangement of the series with which it is allied.' 

 As this parasite occurs on our native beaver we hope our 

 naturalists will be on the look-out for specimens, and care- 

 fully examine the fur of these animals for that purpose.- — 

 ^American NaiuralisV for July, 1874. 



Answers to Correspondents. 



John T. D. Lletvelyn, — Bluebottles on Leaves. — For the 

 last few days we have noticed the bluebottle-flies settle on 

 rose, cabbage, pear, and other leaves. The flies there die. 



