l894-] • ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, 323 



hair was sewed in paper muslin in such a way that when folded around 

 the box and tied with appropriate strings, a pad covered each surface of 

 the box. This packing is light and springy, very inexpensive, and can be 

 used indefinitely. Dr. Skinner described another box used in England. 

 A light paste-board box is suspended by rubber string in a larger and 

 stronger box of wood. 



Prof. Smith referred to his former communication regarding a species 

 of Agrilus, which he had found attacking pear trees in New Jersey, and 

 which he had supposed to he Agrilus acutipennis. He had now deter- 

 mined it to be A. sinuatus, a European species, not before recorded from 

 this country. This species does great injury to the pear in Europe, and 

 remains about two years in the larval stage. He also mentioned the in- 

 teresting work Mr. Roberts has been doing on the genus Dineutes, and 

 stated that his paper would soon be ready. Mr. Fox exhibited a series 

 of Bembex monodonta, which showed great variation in the abdominal 

 markings. In the typical form the yellow on abdomen is restricted to the 

 apical margin of the segments, but a specimen shown has the abdomen 

 entirely yellow. The series showed the gradation between the typical 

 form and variety mentioned. In the species exhibited the variation is 

 apparently confined to specimens of the male sex. Mr. Laurent men- 

 tioned taking the parasite, Leptinus testaceus, on the common mole, 

 Scolops aquaticus. Mr. C. W. Johnson, who had recently returned from 

 a trip from Alabama in search of Eocene fossils, exhibited some of the 

 insects he had incidentally collected. Dr. Skinner said he thought many 

 Lepidopterists attached entirely too much importance to the value of a 

 knowledge of the early stages in separating species. It may probably be 

 stated as an axiom that the larvse do not vary more than their respective 

 imagos and frequently vary less. The proper way to study what he called 

 " gradational" species was by examining a geographical series of indi- 

 viduals. Prof Smith coincided with the remarks of the speaker, and 

 said he had great difficulty in separating certain species of Carneades. 

 They appeared constant from certain localities, but only showed slight 

 variations. There seemed to be no help, whatever, from a study of the 

 larvae as the cut worms vary so little. No further business being pre- 

 sented the social adjourned to the "annex" for refreshments. 



Theo. H. Schmitz, Secretary. 



The Entomological Section 



ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. 



PROCEEDINGS OF MEETINGS. 



October 25, 1894. 



A regular stated meeting of the Entomological Section of the Academy 

 of Natural Sciences was held in the Hall, S. W. cor. Nineteenth and Race 

 Streets, this evening. Dr. Geo. H. Horn, director, presiding. Mr. Laurent 

 exhibited an abnormal specimen of Longicorn beetle, Ecyrus dasycerus. 



