400 Miscellaneous. 



the author considering that Bentham and Hooker had suppressed 

 it from a mistaken idea as to the constancy of its characters, and 

 Haovlia is retained solely for convenience. 



Altogether about 950 species are enumerated, of which 262, or 

 nearly two sevenths of the total number, are introduced plants, 

 ■which are especially numerous in Leguminosse, including 7 species of 

 Medicago, 13 of Trifolium, and 6 of Vicia ; 49 plants are described 

 as new, and a dozen are transferred to different genera. 



The volume embraces the first half of the whole phanerogamic 

 flora, from Ranunculaceae to Compositte inclusive, with a glossary of 

 terms, a synopsis of the work, and two indexes. Apart from the 

 shape, which is a little awkward for use, we can only express our 

 pleasure at so much of the New Zealand flora being issued and 

 brought down to the present time, the admirable handbook of Sir 

 Joseph Hooker having long since been out of print. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Scriptotricha or Paracantha ? 



Skveral years ago, when resident in Colorado, the writer found a 

 Trypetid fly breeding in the heads of thistles. A specimen was sent 

 to the Department of Agriculture at Washington, and was identified 

 as Scriptotnclia culta, under which name I published an account of 

 it in the ' Sixth lleport of the Colorado Biological Association,' 

 Jan. 16, 1889. The fly and its habits were there described in a 

 manner sufficient for recognition. In Trans. Amer. Eut. Soc. xx. 

 p. 3G9 (1893), the insect Avas again referred to as IScriptotrkha calta 

 (Wied.). 



In Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc, Dec. 1899, Mr. D. W. Coquillett 

 proposes the name Paracantha, with the Carphotricha culta (Wied.) 

 as the type. 



On looking into the matter I found no mention of Scriptotricha 

 in the literature, except in the places just cited, and concluded that 

 it must have been a MS. name. Mr. Coquillett, at my request, has 

 been so kind as to investigate its history, and he finds that the fly 

 I sent in was identified by the late Mr. Linell as Carphotricha culta, 

 but Mr. Pergande misread the name as Scriptotricha culta, and in 

 the latter form it was sent to me. 



Now the question is, will Scriptotricha hold, and if so, who is its 

 author? It was published in connexion with a description, and 

 would be valid but for the fact that it originated in a mistake. 1 

 am inclined to consider, on the whole, that it will rank with mis- 

 prints, and the name Paracantha will apply to the fiy *. 



In any case, this explanation seems necessary, to avoid future 

 misunderstandings. T. D. A. Cockerell, 



Mesilla Park, New Mexico, U.S.A., 

 Jan. 27, 1900. 



* [I entirely agree with Professor Cockerell, and am glad that he has 

 put the matter on record. — C. Da vies Sherborn.] 



