62 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February, 



Prof. Smith spoke of the great vaUie accruing from the in- 

 troduction of the fig insect into CaHfornia, and referred to it 

 as an example of the good work being done by economic ento- 

 mologists in this country. 



Mr. Schwarz stated that the Smyrna figs could not be dried 

 in the Eastern and Southern States, and only portions of Cali- 

 fornia are propitious for its cultivation. The figs must dr)- on 

 the trees and are harvested when fallen to the ground. He 

 believed the Colorado desert to be an ideal country for the cul- 

 tivation of the tree. 



Mr. Ashmead stated that the fig insect although known for 

 centuries was not described until 1820. Their position in the 

 Chalcididae had been demonstrated by Westwood. He had now 

 nearly all the described species and many new ones in his collec- 

 tion. The structure of the insects was dwelt on, they are re- 

 markable for having a saw-like appendage to the palpi or mandi- 

 bles except in two genera. The sexes had not been correlated 

 until recently owing to differences in structure. Figures of 

 both sexes were shown. The Torj-midae were formerly classed 

 with these insects but have since been shown to be distinct, 

 being either true parasites or inquilines. 



In reply to Dr. Skinner, Mr. Ashmead said there are known 

 about thirteen genera and fortj- or fifty species of fig insects, 

 but many are yet undescribed. 



The subject was further discussed by Messrs. Smith, Skinner, 

 Schwarz, Ashmead. 



Dr. Skinner asked whether this fertilization was a case of 

 design in nature or one of natural selection. 



Prof. Smith believed it a case of natural selection. He ad- 

 mitted apparent design in nature but believed it due to the 

 adaptation of various forms of life to one another. 



The advisability of naming forms which intergrade for so- 

 called convenience, was discussed b}- Messrs. Ashmead, Skin- 

 ner, Johnson and Schwarz. 



Dr. Skinner referred to a specimen of Coleopterous larva six 

 inches long recently received from Pecos, Texas. Mr. Schwarz 

 suggested that it belonged to a longiconi, Mallodon. 



Mr. Schwarz exhibited a specimen of the European Platynus 

 albipes from northeastern Maine, a species new to the U. S, 



