112 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



understand me when using a specific name settled by the 

 great monographer of bees, William Kirby, and adopted in 

 this country for three-quarters of a century. I give Mr. 

 Smith full credit for his ingenuity and research in discovering 

 a second and perhaps earlier name. 



Miners of Turnip-leaves. — These are not the larvae of 

 Micro-Lepidoptera as M. P. suggests, but of Diptera. At 

 p. 84 of his ' Farm Insects,' Mr. Curtis has figured two 

 species which have this habit, together with the larva, pupa, 

 and mine of the former. Mr. Curtis adds : " The turnip-leaf 

 miners may generate diseases in cattle where they greatly 

 abound. The one called Drosophila flava causes large 

 blisters on the upper sides of the leaves, which contain the 

 maggots ; the other, named Phytomyza nigricornis, is the 

 parent of a maggot which eats galleries in the under side of 

 the leaves." Mr. Curtis gives no remedy; neither can I 

 suggest one. 



Weevil on Rose-trees. — The beetle John Woods has 

 sent is Otiorhynchus scabrosus : it appears to be unusually 

 abundant and destructive this year; it is an intolerable 

 nuisance ; and I know of no remedy but picking the beetles 

 off by hand, and in the night by the light of a lantern : it is 

 a tedious, but safe and effectual, process. I have long 

 declined to recommend " something that will destroy the 

 vermin." I have sent a similar reply to the ' Field,' as well 

 as to several individuals who have consulted me. 



Tlte Unicorn Fly. — L. C. is informed that this formidable- 

 looking insect is quite harmless. Mr. Verrall has named my 

 specimens Bombylius discolor of Mikan. We used to call it 

 Bombylius medius ; and it is so called by Mr. Walker, who 

 describes it at p. 82 of the first volume of his Diptera. It is 

 not uncommon, invariably appearing in the spring, and 

 occurring as long as the primroses are in blossom. 



Early Butterflies and Hiimniiny-hird Hawk-Moths. — 

 Please not to send any more records on these subjects. 1 do 

 not like to pass them over without notice, but they are really 

 of no value in a scientific point of view. 



Errattiin. — The note in last mouth's 'Entomologist' on 

 G. Papilionaria (Entom. vi. 85), signed J. R. S. Clifford^ 

 should have borne the signature James Bryant. 



EuwARD Newman. 



