April, '03] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 1 23 



Lasius niger L. var. americanus Em. ^ ^ , July 30- Aug. 3, 1901. 



Lasius claviger'RogQr. Four 9. 



Formica pallidifulva Latr. subsp. schaufussi Mayr. var. incerta Em. 

 ^ ^, June 29-Aug. 10, 1901, Chestertown. 



Formica fusca L. var. subsericea Say. ^ ^, June 28 Aug. 8, 1901, Ches- 

 tertown. 



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San Francisco; a Reminiscence. 



By H. F. Wickham, Iowa City, Iowa. 



Through lonely days under the glaring sun of the great 

 southwestern deserts, comes now and again the remembrance 

 of pleasant hours spent in the company of kind friends in the 

 metropolis of the Pacific Coast ; strong is the temptation to 

 leave the alkali water, the burning, deserted sand-flats and the 

 barren hills for the comfort of the pleasant homes where cor- 

 dial welcome and entertaining discourse await the wandering 

 insect hunter. In this far Western city, there has been of late 

 years a great awakening of interest in our study, and the labors 

 of the -pioneer, Chas. Fuchs, are now supplemented by those 

 of many another who finds a great part of his inspiration in 

 the unflagging zeal and cheerfully given assistance of our 

 friend. His home is truly ' ' entomological headquarters ' ' for 

 the elect of San Francisco, and fortunate is the man who finds 

 himself there, when, towards the end of the afternoon, the 

 fraternity begins to assemble for one of those informal, unan- 

 nounced, spontaneous social sessions, the outcome of a general 

 desire to show and discuss treasures, to exchange opinions and 

 views, and to enjoy the genial society of the host and his wife. 

 The fine reference collection of Mr. Fuchs is in constant de- 

 mand to illustrate one point or another, and many is the rarity 

 that the visitor sees here for the first time in his life. Here he 

 meets not only the resident students of our science, but those 

 as well who are passing through the city, en route for other 

 points, since no one who cares for beetles neglects to present 

 himself at the first opportunity. 



Mr. Fuchs' collection of Coleoptera is not only of great ex- 

 tent, but is beautifully mounted, and the matter of labelling 

 has received careful attention, so that one finds more than a 

 State record when he examines the material. A particularly 



