122 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, 



phrase or set of phrases, often ingeniously arranged by the author (for 

 variety, I presume, I hope not with malicious intention) in all the com- 

 binations possible, adding immensely to the amount of time consumed in 

 their use without any beneficial results. Uniformity is sometimes much 

 to be desired. It is desirable here. There is enough to be done in our 

 science without needlessly wasting any time. As a remedy for the first 

 evil I would propose two or three rules for guidance in writing descrip- 

 tions, and for the second the use of abbreviations. The rules are brief 

 and easily borne in mind. The abbreviations are few and suggestive. I 

 am well aware that the use of rules and abbreviations when many and 

 complicated is unwise; but if few, simple, suggestive and labor-saving, it 

 has many advantages. A letter or figure appeals to the mind more quickly 

 and surely than a word. Take for instance : 



A broad, submarginal band of buflT on the lower surface of hind wings. 

 Proper sequence : 



Under surface of hind wings with submarginal band of buff broad. 

 Now let 



A — above = upper surface of wings, 



B = below = lower surface of wings, 



I z=: front wing, and 2 = hind wing, 

 And we have : 



B 2 with submarginal band of buff broad. 

 The rules I would suggest are : 



Proceed from the general to the particular; and (usually) from the more 

 obvious to the less so. Locate a peculiarity before describing it. 



These are not to be considered inflexible, and should be applied to 

 phrases which present a single idea to the mind rather than to single 

 words. I would invariably, however, refer to the surface first, the wing 

 second, and the details last, for reasons too obvious to need mention. 

 The abbreviations I would recommend are as follows : 



A (above) = upper surface of wings. 



B (below) ^= lower surface of wings. 



1 — primary = front wing. 



2 = secondary = hind wings. 

 c = cell. 



V = vein. 



Thus B I, c 6, refers at once to cell six on the under surface of the front 

 wings. 



These abbreviations are, of course, chiefly of value in reference to the 

 Lepidoptera, especially the butterflies. Perhaps the plan can be adapted 

 to other orders, at least it seems likely to be applicable to some of them. 

 The other suggestions apply to all.— A. P. Morse, Wellesley, Mass. 



AiLANTHUs Foliage and the Rose-beetle. — In Bulletin No. 32 of 

 the New Jersey Experiment Station, discussing the rose-chafer {Macro- 

 dadylus subspinosus) Prof. Smith states that some other things "decoc- 

 tions of peach leaves and the blossoms of Ailanthus were found to be 



