142 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June^ 



of Natural Sciences. The collection consists of 16 boxes and 

 comprises 656 genera, 1326 species and 3823 specimens. 



Theo. H. Schmitz, Secretary. 



Newark Entomological Society, — Special meeting held 

 February 28th at the laboratory of Prof John B. Smith, New- 

 Brunswick, N. J., nine members present and Messrs. H. W. 

 Wenzel, Laurent and Fox as visitors from Philadelphia. Some 

 hours were devoted to an examination of the collections, appa- 

 ratus, etc. , and the meeting was called to order about two o'clock. 



Prof. Smith explained his plan of forming a biologic collection 

 and his methods of preparing and preserving early stages and 

 samples of insect work in all conditions. He urged especially 

 upon the members the desirability of preserving all stages of all 

 the insects by them, and urged them to gather also samples of 

 insect architecture wherever they v^'ere obtainable. For preserving 

 larvae of natural shape and often in natural colors, nothing is 

 more satisfactory than to drop the living insect into boiling hot 

 water and allow to boil until fully distended, but not abnormally 

 bloated. It should be then put into a two per cent, solution of 

 formalin, which will preserve it without discoloration for a long 

 time. If alcohol is to be used instead of formalin it should be 

 put from the boiling water into fifty per cent, alchohol. After a 

 time it may be transferred to eighty per cent, alcohol, and this is 

 sufficient under ordinary conditions to preserve it perfectly. 



Mr. Weidt explained how he collected the larvae of Arzama in 

 "cat-tails." He finds it simpler to pull aside the outer leaves 

 than to cut into the reeds because, at any rate toward the end 

 of February, more specimens were found just under the outer 

 leaves than were found in the stalks themselves. Several other 

 larvae and a number of beetles were also found in similar situations. 



Mr. H. W. Wenzel exhibited his collection of Bembidium 

 which had been recently arranged in accordance with a paper 

 now in press in the " Trans." Am. Ent. Soc. 



Prof Smith showed the collection of Acronycta which he is 

 now monographing, and explained some of the characters used 

 to separate the genus into groups. He also gave an outline clas- 

 sification of the various orders of insects, illustrating by a diagram 

 the genealogy of the class. The annex was held at the residence 

 of Prof Smith at New Brunswick. 



