CURRENT NOTES. 203 



anomala, so that the gist of his classification is (1) that the 

 Nemocera anomala of Osten Sacken (Bibionidfe, &c.) are removed 

 from the vicinity of the Nemocera vera and placed near the 

 Stratiomyidae with the Brachijcera, and (2) the merging of 

 ffistridse, Nycteribiidae, Hippoboscidse, &c., in Muscidse. 



Mitchell (30) deals with the mouth parts of mosquito larvae 

 as indicative of habits, dividing them into two categories ; (1) 

 insectivorous, normally preying on small aquatic larvae, and (2) 

 non-insectivorous, feeding on vegetable matter, protozoa, &c. 

 Somewhat intermediate are the Urano-tcenia and Anoplieles 

 groups. " That the differences in habits are correlated with 

 marked differences in the structure of the mouth parts " is 

 demonstrated by figures and comparative tables. Washburn (31) 

 has continued the well-known Minnesota resumes of our know- 

 ledge in various orders of American insects, by a useful summary 

 of the Diptera. The late Otto Lugger dealt with the Ortho- 

 ptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera. These well- 

 illustrated bulletins are actually reports on the economic insects 

 of Minnesota, but they are useful for all workers. The structure 

 of the Diptera is first discussed (pp. 22-32, figs. 4-15), the 

 various families being then considered in turn. 



The Chironomidae have been revised generically by Kieffer 

 (32), the known species being listed. Four excellent plates 

 elucidate the text, in which fifty-four genera are admitted. By 

 an oversight, Tanytarsus lacteiclavus, Grimsh., and Chironomus 

 hawaiiensis, Grimsh., both from the Hawaiian Islands, have been 

 omitted, and a preoccupied generic name (Ceratolophus) has been 

 used. 



Of special interest to British workers will be Schouteden's 

 " Catalogue of the Belgian Aphidae " (28), a critical list running 

 to fifty-eight pages. Girault (29) has discussed the bed-bug 

 {Clinocoris lectularius) at some length, with especial regard to its 

 food supply, metamorphoses, and pathogenic relations. 



Plateau (27) has contributed some extensive observations 

 and experiments on Macroglossa stellatarum. He refrains from 

 formulating any conclusions, owing to the incompleteness of his 

 experiments — lengthy and laborious though these were — as bis 

 fields of observation were destroyed by the creation of a new 

 railway station, and the Macroglossa thus rendered very rare. 

 After discussing certain details of the habits of the moth, the 

 learned Belgian treats of (1) the attraction of Macroglossa and 

 other insects by coloured cloth and coloured paper ; (2) its flight 

 in front of flowers painted on these substances ; and (3) Macro- 

 glossa and artificial flowers. These are followed by a note on 

 Macroglossa and the bracts of Salvia horminum (a sage not, I 

 think, found in Britain). 



