CURRENT NOTES. 285 



Keuter's memoir (33) on the classification of the Miridse 

 (Capsidae) is the most important paper on the Heteropterous 

 Hemiptera issued for some time, and is specially noted here, 

 since it is practically a separate publication. The learned 1^'in- 

 lander resents Distant's allegation (in the ' Fauna of British 

 India — Rhynchota,' vol. ii.) that the current classification of 

 MiridsB is more for cabinet-arrangement purposes than as ex- 

 hibiting a philosophical conception, and refutes Distant, showing, 

 in great detail, that the English author's groups are entirely 

 artificial, and that his own are based, as far as present knowledge 

 permits, on philosophical principles. 



The first bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Division 

 of Entomology (34-45) comprises some 542 pages, with thirty- 

 eight plates and eleven text-figures, and deals with the Fulgoroid 

 and Tetigonioid Hemiptera (principally those of Australia), and 

 their enemies. The main scope of the work is biologic and 

 classificatory, but there are also described 120 new genera and 

 subgenera, and 356 new species and varieties, principally in 

 parasitic Hymenoptera and in Siphonata (Homoptera). The con- 

 tents of the bulletin may be summarized as follows : — 



Parts 1, 6, 8, and 10 deal with the parasitic Hymenoptera. 

 It is remarkable that the Dryinidae which attack Tetigoniids 

 (Jassids), while often superficially resembling others parasitic on 

 Asu-acids (Delphacids), " always differ essentially in the struc- 

 ture of the chelge from the latter. Consequently the same species, 

 or rather the same genus, does not attack both of these indiscrimi- 

 nately. The nature of the larval sac is explained, and a similar 

 sac is shown to exist outside the group in an anomalous insect 

 (possibly allied to Embolemm) parasitic on Orthoptera. . . This 

 is also the case with some European Belytidse, which also form 

 larval sacs on small Jassids. The economic value of Dryinidte is 

 discussed, and the effect of hyperparasites on their utility ; some 

 species reproduce parthenogenetically, though males occur." 

 Parthenogenesis is shown to be usual in some Mj-maridas. 

 Part 2 deals with the parasitic Lepidoptera of the Epipyropidse. 

 Their habits are given, and the remarkable form of the young 

 larva is described. In part 3, some forms of the coleopterous 

 family " Stylopidae are discussed, their habits, the effect of their 

 attack on their hosts, the frequent occurrence of a parasitic 

 fungus in connection with their attack, the structure of larvae 

 and adults." The habits, and the form of the larvae and puparia 

 of the Dipterous family Pipunculidae occupy part 4. The life- 

 histories of the Forficulid Clielisoches morio, and of the lacewing 

 Chrysopa microphya, are detailed in part 5. The life-histories of 

 the Locustid Xiphidion varipenne (formerly confused with the 

 European X.fusca), and of some Coccinellidae and Heteroptera, 

 are discussed in part 7. Part 9 is devoted to the leaf -hoppers of 

 the superfamilies Tetigonioidea and Fulgoroidea. A summary 



