294 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
family of the Aphaniptera, equivalent in value to the Pulicide, 
7.e., dipterous. Westwood thought it 
to be a type of a new order of insects, 
the Achreioptera. Dr. Le Conte,—and 
we are fortunate in having in our 
country one who easily leads the ranks 
of Coleopterists,—after a hasty ex- 
amination, regarded the insect as 
coleopterous, a conclusion confirmed 
by further careful study, the results of 
which are presented in the beautiful 
paper before us. In this singular in- 
sect the body is long-oval, flattened, 
spiny on the exposed portions, re- 
sembling at first sight a minute cock- 
roach, and of the same colour. The 
wing-covers are small, not longer than 
the prothorax, and the head is nearly semicircular; the eyes 
entirely wanting; the antenne nine-jointed, clavate; the 
maxille large, with four-jointed palpi; the mentum large; 
the ligula broad; and the labial palpi short and three- 
jointed; while the labrum is peculiar. After comparing this 
beetle with those of other families, the author decides that 
‘the affinities of this insect are very composite, but all in the 
direction of the Adephagous and Clavicorn series, though 
chiefly with the latter. The most convenient position of the 
family will probably be between Hydrophilide and Leptinide 
as the families are now arranged, though its tendency to 
Trichopterygide and Corylophide is equally strongly mani- 
fested. It is, therefore, a very peculiar and extraordinary 
synthetic type, which is almost equally in and out of place in 
any linear arrangement of the series with which it is allied.’ 
As this parasite occurs on our native beaver we hope our 
naturalists will be on the look-out for specimens, and care- 
fully examine the fur of these animals for that purpose.— 
‘American Naturalist’ for July, 1874. 
MWY) 
ti ne 
Platypsylla Castoris. 
Answers to Correspondents. 
John T. D. Liewelyn.— Bluebottles on Leaves.—For the 
last few days we have noticed the bluebottle-flies settle on 
rose, cabbage, pear, and other leaves. The flies there die, 
* 
SS Se 
