128 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. • [June, 



were shown. Prof. Riley gave an account also of his additional study of 

 Platypsyllus, in which he mentioned the discovery of a large number of 

 insects, mites and centipedes, which are associated with the beaver either 

 accidentally or as parasites or guests. He also mentioned the undeter- 

 mined larva described by Mrs. Julia P. Ballard in the October number of 

 Entomological News, p. 124, and said that he had no difficulty in rec- 

 ognizing the larva as that of Ciiheronia regalis* G. and R. He then called 

 attention to an interesting paper read by Prof. Forbes at the recent meet- 

 ing of the Association of Economic Entomologists, relating to the periods 

 of transformation, and to the specific characters of Lachnosterna larva. 

 These matters were discussed at considerable length by Prof. Riley, and 

 two new parasites of Lachnosterna were added to those hitherto known. 

 Mr. Schwarz presented a note " On the feeding habits of Empidae," in 

 which he described the habits in this regard of a species of Sytteches sim- 

 plex f which was very abundant in the mountains at Ft. Pendleton, Md., 

 during the first part of July. Their vertical position in flight and peculiar 

 method of holding their prey and of hanging by one fore-leg while de- 

 vouring it, were described. He also discussed the recent publication by 

 Ed. Fleutian and Sall6 on the Coleoptera from the island of Guadalupe, 

 West Indies (Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, 1889, 1890J. The relation of the 

 species enumerated to the fauna of the United States was particularly 

 dwelt upon. C. L. Marlatt, 



Recording Secretary. 



OBITUARY 



Prof. Joseph Leidy, M.D., died April 30, 1891, aged 68 years. Dr. 

 Leidy always took a warm interest in Entomology, although his writings 

 on the subject were principally connected with the anatomy of insects. 

 Among his very first contributions to' science was an article on the Mech- 

 anism which Closes the Membranous Wings of the genus Locusta (Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. 1846). Then came the important contributions, " History 

 and Anatomy of the Hemipterous genus Belostonia (1847)," and the 

 " Internal Anatomy of Corydalis corniitus in its three stages of exist- 

 ence (1848)." He collected micro-lepidoptera in his earlier years, and 

 there are many specimens in the collection of the Entomological Section 

 of the Academy of Natural Sciences, which he presented. Dr. Leidy 

 was elected a member of the American Entomological Society, Feb. 8, 

 1864. 



Entomological News for May was mailed April 27, 1S91. 



C. sepulcralis ? —'Ed. 



