484 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, 



atists in attempting to make a comparison with exotic forms. 

 Collections of foreign insects are scarce and not very complete 

 in America, which makes comparisons almost impossible. He 

 did not agree with Dr. Skinner that a genus should have a 

 certain number of species, as many valid genera are founded 

 on single species. 



Dr. Skinner believed that too many genera lessened the 

 utility of classification, and the nearer we approach to specific 

 names, which is done by division of species into genera, the 

 nearer we come to doing away with the binomial system, as in 

 the future specific names alone would be sufficient. 



Mr. Johnson staled that as the work of classification in the 

 various orders is carried on in different lines he did not believe 

 the work done in the Diptera would have any bearing on that 

 in other orders. 



Dr. Skinner referred to the use of the costal fold as a generic 

 distinction in the Hesperidae, and stated that if this character- 

 istic is used he believed all with it should go in one genus and 

 those without it in another, instead of erecting many genera 

 with and without this fold. 



Prof. Smith said this characteristic is a sexual one, and that 

 no genus should be founded without knowing the characters of 

 both sexes. 



The subject was further discussed by Messrs. Johnson and 

 Smith. 



Mr. H. W. Wenzel gave the results of collecting from a dead 

 tree trunk at Merchantville, N. J. Specimens of Batrisus glo- 

 bosus and Ischalia costata, had been found. 



William J. Fox, Secretary. 



OBITUARY. 



It i.s with sfjrrow and regret that we announce the death of 

 Mrs. lyouise Fitz Randolph Oilbert, of Plainfield, N. J. Mrs. 

 Gillxrrt was interested in the Lejiidoptera, and had an excel- 

 lent collection. Having congenial ta.stes, Mrs. Gilbert and 

 Mrs, F. O. Herring worked together in natural history. The 

 decea.sed was an intellectual and charming woman, and her 

 lofw i» keenly felt by a large circle of friends. 



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