— 6o— 



The current numbers of the 'Entomologische Nachrichten' contain 

 interesting reading. First Dr. Kraatz "goes for" Dr. Kolbe, proves 

 him an ignoramus and himself the exact contrary. Then Dr. Kolbe 

 proves Dr. Kraatz an exceedingly bad man, unworthy the confidence of 

 his fellows, and that he not only knows nothing, but never did know 

 anything. As said, it is interesting reading — and all this because these 

 two gentlemen are not agreed as to the value of the genus Orinocarabus 

 and of the position of some of the species. John B. Smith. 



Society News. 



The Brooklyn Entomological Society met in its rooms Tuesday Evcninij;, 

 May 3rd. The President reported the following Committee to represent the Society 

 in the Meetings of the A. A. A. S. to be held in New York, August loth, — Henry 

 Edwards, Ed. L. Graef, Chas. S. Lcng, G. W. J. Angcll and Geo. U. Ilulst. 



Mr. Weeks read a paper ujion various melhotls of ])rescrving dujilicates of 

 » Coleont'jra. 



In response to a question by one of the members opinions were given as to the 

 best method of collecting Coleoptera when off on a distant collecting trip. The large 

 majority favored the collecting of all Beetles in pure alcohol rather than in any 

 other way. 



Ent. See. Washington, April 7th, 1887. — Mr. E. A. Schwarz read a paper, 

 "In Mcmoriam of Thomas Say." He showed two photographs of tlie monument 

 erected to his memory at New Harmony, Ind., and a copy of the inscriptions on it. 

 After describing the life of Thomas Say, Mr. Schwarz feelingly remarked, that the 

 importance of Say's work had never been duly recognized by the Scientific Societies 

 of Philadelphia to M'hich he belonged and of one of which he was one of the founders. 



Mr. Smith read a short paper on specific characters in the genus Arctia, finding 

 the pattern of maculation con.stant and reliable for specific distinction when the ten- 

 dency or direction of variation was understood. He gave a rough outline of a scheme 

 to distinguish the species. 



Mr. Ulke made some remarks on exchanging and dealing in Insects, criticising 

 to tendency to use numbers instead of names, as a source of many erroneous deter- 

 minations, as an error in a single figure would sometimes put the specimen in an alto- 

 gether different family. 



May 6th, 1887. — Mr. Smith gave some notes on the Snier'nithiuiC — first giving a 

 brief history of the modifications and subdivisions of the original <j^cn\\9< Siiicrhithiis 

 until to-day we have seven genera for eight species. He called attention to the un- 

 certainty which writers seemed to labor under as to the real limits of genera, and 

 pointed out a series of characters which will. In- believes, jirove satisfactory in separat- 

 ing the forms now known to us. 



Dr. Marx gave sonic brief notes on his recent studies in ScorpionidtC, ami also on 

 the effects of their poison on the human system. Mr. Lugger and Mr. Sm;tJ. made 

 some remarks on the latter subject. 



Mr. Howard recorded the presence of Ilydropsyclu- in all stages of growth at this 

 season, and also the presence of great swarms of Siiiiitliurn larvoe. 



Mr. Lugger read a note on an Entomological curiosity.* 



* Which will be printed in lull. 



