350 



NORTH AMERICAN TACHINID^. 



There are few families of Diptera of greater importance to the eco- 

 nomic entomologist than the Tachinida^, comprising as it does the chief 

 parasitic Diptera which help to check many of our most injurious 

 insects. Our former assistant, Prof. C. H. Tyler Townsend, now of the 

 New Mexico Agricultural College, has recently taken up the study of 

 these little flies wliich have been sadly in need of systematic study. He 

 is publishing a series of papers in different entomological serials giving 

 descrij)tions of new species and new genera. These fragmentary for- 

 mal communications are doubtless looked upon by Prof. Townsend as 

 merely preliminary and with a view of securing priority, and it is greatly 

 to be hoped that they will all be brought together in some future mon- 

 ographic work by the same author. It is to be regretted that these 

 descriptions are being published at the very time that the renowned 

 Dipterologist, Dr. F. Brauer, is monographing the family, as we fear that 

 synonyms which otherwise might be avoided will necessarily result. It 

 may not be out of place to repeat here the warning of our friend Baron 

 Osten Sacken, who is a master in systematic entomology and to whom 

 North American Dipterologj^ is more indebted than to anyone else. He 

 says in his last important contribution : 



If I am asked uow wliat the desiderata for the future of this branch of science in 

 America are, I would answer : 



1. Continue the publications of North American Diptera in monographs. 



2. Avoid as much as possible the publication of detached species either singly, 

 or in numbers. 



The cases where the publication of detached species of Diptera can be really use- 

 ful in the present state of American Dipterology are rare, and will easily suggest 

 themselves to the good sense of the unprejudiced. 



Conscientious monographs are always useful. 



NEW SPECIES OF COLEOPTERA.* 



We have received from Captain Casey a copy of his third paper of 

 ''Coleoi)terological Notices," which is a continuation of a series begun 

 in 1889 in Vol. v of the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 

 In this i)aper the author furnishes a revision of the Cistelida" of the 

 United States, defines ten new genera, and describes as new upwards 

 of 100 species, principally of the Heteromera and Cerambycida*, many 

 of them founded on unique specimens. The following genera are pro- 

 posed: Chrotoma, Thesalia, Valenus, Idiobates, Palembus, Rues, Tedi- 

 nus, Negalius, Adrimus, Dinocleus, all, except the last two mentioned, 

 being established on single species. Synoptic tables are furnished of 

 the following genera: Lyctus (including Trogoxylon), Polyphylla (P. 

 10-lineata group), Tetropium, Rhopalophora, Crossidius, Sphfenothecus, 

 Ipochus, Psenocerus, Hyperplatys, Spalacopsis, Epitragus, Epitrag- 



* Coleopterological Notices, in. By Thos. L. Casey. Extr. from Annals N. Y. 

 Academy Sciences, Vol. vi, November, 1891. 



