NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 139 



The correct fixation of the Linnean orders Aptera and Neu- 

 roptera is a matter of very great difficulty, and should be very 

 carefully worked out. The original spelling of the first order was 

 Thysanoura. The fleas have a prior name, viz. Suctoria; while 

 the correct name of the Orthoptera is, as pointed out by West- 

 wood, undoubtedly Dermaptera. The prior name of Trichoptera 

 is Elinguia. While keeping apart the Trichoptera, Siphonaptera, 

 various " Neuropteroidea," &c., it is perhaps a little inconsistent 

 not to recognize the earwigs as Euplexoptera. The ProcidaB have 

 a prior ordinal name, viz. Corrodentia; and the Ephemeroptera* 

 should be known as Plectoptera. While giving these recent 

 names, what becomes then of the more ancient Pseudoneuro- 

 ptera, Anisoptera, Megaloptera, PJiaphioptera, &c. ? 



Perkins (2) brings up to date the account of the insects that 

 were imported into the Hawaiian Islands from Mexico, to check 

 the growth of lantana. Although the difficulties of transportation 

 were very great, five species of Lepidoptera have thoroughly 

 established themselves, as have also two species of Diptera and 

 one bug ; "of the two species of flies, the success of the one was 

 instant and phenomenal."' With the exception of the imported 

 bug, which has natural enemies in the shape of other bugs, all 

 the other imported lantana insects are " at present practically 

 free from attacks from other predaceous or parasitic insects ; 

 and it is quite certain that the parasites, which in Mexico destroy 

 at least ninety per cent, of the individuals of the lantana-eating 

 species, were entirely eliminated here before the latter was liberated. 

 To this fact is due the astonishing rapidity of increase of some of 

 the quicker-breeding insects in these islands, so that, after three 

 months, from two or three dozen of the berry-eating fly originally 

 liberated the progeny, had already run into many millions." This 

 dipteron is as yet undetermined. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Hertfordshike Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. — A meeting of 

 the Hertfordshire Natural History Society was held at Watford on 

 March 29th, Mr. B. Daydon Jackson, Secretary, Linn. Soc, President, 

 in the chair, when Mr. A. E. Gibbs, Recorder of Insecta for the 

 Society, presented his annual report. He remarked that it was satis- 

 factory, at the close of a season which had proved so disappointing as 

 1903, to be able to announce the addition of nine species of Lepidoptera 

 to the list of a county which had been so well worked as Hertfordshire. 

 It was true that all these records could not be credited to 1903, but 



'■ For it is stated that Ephemeroptera is a new name ; it was, however, 

 employed by J. B. Smith in 1896. 



