1892.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. I35 



each has been described under at least half a dozen names were 

 taken in small numbers, while that pest of the market gardener, 

 Miirgajitia histrionica Hahn. was present everywhere. Belos- 

 toma americamim Leidy, the "electric light bug," is becoming 

 as well known in Orizaba since the advent of the lights as its con- 

 gener, Beyiacus griseiis Say, which bears the same common name, 

 is known to the inhabitants of our northern cities. Nor can we 

 forbear mentioning, while speaking of Hemiptera, those species 

 of Acanthia which were felt on various occasions, but were diffi- 

 cult to capture. 



If a Mexican discovers that an American or " Gringo," desires 

 to secure any special article or group of articles the price of those 

 articles suddenly advances one thousand per cent. "Bugs," 

 which were quoted away below par before our advent into the 

 city of Orizaba took an upward impetus in value each day of our 

 stay, and every street urchin and many men began to deal in 

 them, or rather to try and deal in them. One day the landlord 

 informed me that a native was in the office who had ' ' an exceed- 

 ingly rare butterfly" which he wished to dispose of. I went 

 down and found that he had a small gray moth with a silvery 

 band across its wings. I looked at it and asked him ' ' quanta f ' 

 (how much?) ''Unpeso,'" (one dollar) was the answer. I did 

 not care to purchase, but offered him a " medio,''' six cents. He 

 walked out with a look of disgust, carrying the precious insect 

 with him, and that night I captured five of them from the side of 

 our building. Another native had a large click beetle with enor- 

 mous mandibles, which he asked me two dollars for. I finally 

 offered him fifty cents, but he evidently thought I would give 

 more before I left the city and refused the offer, although he did 

 not appear as if he had seen fifty cents in as many months. 



After eleven days spent in collecting in the vicinity of Orizaba 

 we left that fair city with many regrets and made our way to the 

 town of San Andres, 4000 feet higher up the slope. The differ- 

 ence in the numbers and variety of insects which this ascent of 

 4000 feet made was remarkable. During two day's collecting 

 about San Andres not more than half a dozen species of butter- 

 flies and as many of beetles were taken, while the other orders 

 were as sparingly represented. As the ascent continued this 

 number became gradually less. At a camp at 12,000 feet a half 

 day's search was rewarded with four species of beetles which 



