320 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



whole question of the classification of the Tortricidse, and this 

 is ground upon which I almost fear to tread. They are certainly 

 in a most unsatisfactory condition, but any partial revision based 

 upon British species alone seems hardly worth doing, and surely 

 the North American species would have to be considered, and if 

 so, where shall we draw the line? And for a sound classification 

 of the Tortricidae of the world we must await more ample 

 materials. I can but say that the species seems to be somewhat 

 closely related to the genus Bactra, Es. ; the habits of the larva 

 also support this view. It is also a close ally of Catoptria 

 hypeo'icana. — G. Coverdale ; 24, Fleming Koad, Lorrimore Square. 



Dryinus formicarius, Latr., at Shiere, — On June 15th, 

 while beating a maple bush to obtain the little Homopteron, 

 Rhinocola aceris, I took a fine example of this curious insect, 

 remarkable not only for its singular structure, but also for its 

 great rarity, for I believe there is only a single record of its 

 capture before in England, and it appears to be equally 

 uncommon in other countries. It is strange that as yet the 

 male is quite unknown, and in fact the economy of the creature 

 is also entirely a guess, as nothing has ever been discovered of 

 its habits, or upon what insect it is parasitic, as no doubt it has 

 a host of some kind. In the 1 9th vol. of the Ent. Mo. Mag. 

 Mr. Douglas has given some notes concerning the parasitism of 

 its near all}^ Gonatojms, on certain species of Homoptera; and 

 I think it extremely probable that we may look in that Order for 

 its prey. It must, however, be a large insect to nourish another 

 of such size, mj' specimen being quite 3 lines in length. The only 

 large Homopteron that I could find in the same bush was Cixius 

 contaminatus, and this was in abundance ; and I think it not at 

 all unlikely that it was the insect from which the Dryinus 

 receives its supply of food. — E. Capron ; Shiere, July 1, 1885. 



A Pest of Flies. — Since Monday Oxford has been visited 

 by a plague of flies, which renders walking in the streets 

 extremely uncomfortable. As far as I can observe, the swarm is 

 chiefly composed of two varieties of the winged aphis, one being 

 bright green in body, and the other a lighter yellowish green with 

 black-brown mottled patches. There are also innumerable 

 beetles, apparently a tiny species of rove beetle, which have a 

 habit of getting into the nostrils of the passers-by, and, if 

 crushed, emitting an insufi'erable odour. — G. E. Sims, jun. ; Oxford. 



