292 



published by Dr. Packard ; but in that of the nou-caveruicolous species, several ad- 

 ditions are made and their geographical distribution given. As a preface Mr. Schwarz 

 made some general remarks on blind insects and more especially on their mode of 

 living. 



In the remarks on this paper by Messrs. Riley, Howard, and Schwarz, eyeless in- 

 sects of various orders were discussed, together with the presence or absence of eyes 

 in the different stages of particular insects. 



Mr. Riley made some remarks on the larva of Platypsyllus. The discrepancy in 

 size between the larva hitherto described and the matnre insect had led him to sus- 

 pect that the last larval stage as well as the pupa remained to be discovered. 



A specimen recently received by him and desciibed and figured ( Entomologica 

 Americana for February 1890, pp. ^7-30) as the "Ultimate Larva," is in general ap- 

 pearance strikingly Mallophagous and a few points may be mentioned as not suffi- 

 ciently emphasized in the published description. The arrangement of setous hairs 

 on the venter recalled that in the adult, while the raised dorsal points, though un- 

 armed, foreshadowed somewhat the setous points on the dorsal abdominal joints of 

 the adult. Remnants of the anal cerci of the earlier larval stages are noticeable in 

 the two slight swellings on penultimate joint, each surrounded by a series of short 

 spinous hairs. The spiracles are small and lateral, but niay be detected with diffi- 

 culty at the inner angle in the notch between the abdominal joints. The protho- 

 racic spiracle has not been detected. 



He had, in the paper already alluded to, raised a parenthetical question as to this 

 being the Hnal form of the Platypsyllus larva, but the position and character of the 

 mouth parts, and particularly the single-jointed tarsi exclude it from theMallophaga, 

 while its general characteristics, though departing in so many respects from the 

 earlier larva, have caused him to refer it to Platypsyllus. The principal feature 

 that would shake one's faith in this reference is the presence of ocelli, since none oc- 

 cur in the earlier larva nor in the imago, and while such a feature is abnormal under 

 the circumstances, it is no more so than many of the other features of Platypsyllus. 



In the discussion, Mr. Schwarz held that if not the ultimate larva of Platypsyllus, 

 it is certaiuly Coleopterous and can not be referred to the Mallophaga. 



In the Coleoptera, the Staphylinid genus Amhlyopinus is known to be parasitic oi 

 terrestrial rodents, two species having been found in the fur of mice and rats in 

 South America and Tasmania. We might reasonably expect to find this genus in 

 North America under similar circumstances, but a glance at Prof. Riley's larva shows 

 that it cannot possibly belong to Amhlyopinns nor to any other genus of Staphylinidje. 



Dr. Marx discussed a new family of spiders, the species of which are found abund- 

 antly in the spring. These spiders come near the family Dictynidiv, and belong to the 

 gencxA Neophanes and Prodalia. Dr. Marx mentioned also anew remarkable spider, 

 peculiar among other things in having but two spinnerets — a feature which occurs 

 in but three other known genera. These genera differ from all other spiders, and are 

 only related to each other in the number of spinnerets. 



Considerable discussion followed relating to the advisability of erecting new fami- 

 lies for odd species. The conclusion reached was that generally it would be better to 

 give such species sub-family importance in the nearest related existing family. 



Mr. Linell gave some personal observations showing that Megapenthes limbaUs Hbst. 

 and M. granulosus Melsh. were the same species. He had found these two beetles in 

 coitu, and as only males of limbalis and females of granulosus had been previously 

 known, the identity of the two species was fully shown. M. limbalis being first 

 'described, holds. 



C. L. Marlatt, 



Recording Secretary. 



