1892.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. I03 



Doings of Societies. 



A Regular Meeting of the Entomological Section of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences was held February 25th. Meeting 

 called to order at 8.30 p.m., Dr. Horn, director, presiding. Members 

 present: Ridings, Skinner, Martindale. Associates: Calvert, Johnson, 

 Nell and Fo.x. Mr. Calvert presented the third lot of European Odonata, 

 twelve specimens of Gomphus, which makes the representation of 

 this genus pretty full. Dr. Horn presented thirty-six specimens of 

 Coleoptera from Mexico, being lot No. 2. Specimen of Triptogon 

 occidentalis presented by H. Skinner. Fifteen species of Tachinidae; 

 twenty-one specimens by C. H. Tyler Townsend. These are type 

 specimens, and will make a valuable addition to the collection of 

 Diptera. Mr. Calvert exhibited drawings representing the neuration in 

 his new genus of dragonflies, Ortholestes and two allied genera of Agrio- 

 tiina. He pointed out the generic differences as shown by variation in 

 the neuration. It was also stated that Dr. Karsch had recently described 

 a new genus of Agrionina, Neuragrion from Ecuador, and the speaker 

 pointed out the characters on which the genus was based. The capture 

 of a specimen of Patiiala flavescens was reported from Fairmount Park. 

 Dr. Horn spoke of the mechanism of the veins in Neuroptera, in refer- 

 ence to their utility in flight, and in regard to the strength of the wing. 

 The subject was further discussed by Messrs. Horn, Calvert and Martin- 

 dale. The director announced the death of Henry Walter Bates on Feb- 

 ruary 17th. Messrs. C. W. Johnson and Charles Liebeck were proposed 

 for membership. Henry Skinner, Recorder. 



The Entomological Society of Washington, Feb. 4, 1892. — Under 

 the head of short notes, Mr. Ashmead made some interesting remarks 

 on Eunotus, a peculiar chalcid genus, new to the United States. It was 

 his opinion that it belonged to the subfamily Aphelininae. Dr. Stiles 

 noted a report that a man in Germany had been bitten by the common 

 house fly and died within twenty-four hours. Much discussion followed, 

 throwing considerable discredit upon the story. Mr. Banks exhibited a 

 male specimen of Loxosceles which had but six developed legs. Dr. 

 Marx exhibited a peculiar Theridid spider which had extremely long 

 mandibles. Dr. Stiles made some instructive remarks on a liver-fluke 

 story that was circulating in certain papers. According to this story the 

 young stages of the liver-fluke were passed in the house-fly, whereas they 

 are passed in snails. Mr. Mally read a paper on " An Insectivorous Prim- 

 rose." He drew attention to the fact that CEnothera speciosa captured a 

 small Dipterous insect upon its gummy style and stigma. But one species 

 was seen trapped. As the insect" could not be eaten by the plant the 

 author thought that the insects must, in some way, aid the fertilization of 

 ovules. Discussed by Messrs. Ashmead, Test, Schwarz, Marx, Howard, 

 Stiles and Marlatt. Mr. Howard contributed an important paper on 



