THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 



49 



The metric system is now coming into 

 such general use that measurements in 

 fractions of an inch are preferably based 

 on that system. We shall, therefore, adopt 

 it in the Entomologist. Our readers 

 will bear in mind that one millimeter 

 equals about one twenty-fifth of an inch 



(more accurately 0.3937). 



■ -♦ — ^ 



We are pleased at the manner in which 

 our first number has been received. In 

 addition to the list of promised writers 

 given last month, we have assurances of 

 support and occasional contributions from 

 Mr. S. H. Scudder, Mr. Hermann Strecker, 

 Mr. Chas. R. Dodge, Mr. E. A. Popenoe, 

 Prof. Chas. Fish, Prof. C. E. Bessey and 

 Mr. J. Monell. 



Scientific Symbols. — The sign $ is 

 used in natural history as an abbreviation 

 for the word male, the sign ? for female, 

 and the sign 9 for neuter. Since in 

 insects the sexes of the same species are 

 often quite dissimilar, we shall frequently 

 use these signs with our illustrations, as an 

 index to the sex of the insect figured. In 

 astromony the first sign denotes the 

 planet Mars, and the second the planet 

 Venus. The sign ? has been known for 

 centuries by the name of " crux ansata," 

 or the cross with the handle to it, and 

 occurs profusely on old Egyptian monu- 

 ments. 



Increase of destructive Insects in 

 California. — In a recent letter Mr. C. H. 

 Dwindle, Lecturer on Practical Agricul- 

 ture, at the University of California, writes 

 as follows : 



" I can assure you that we have no occa- 

 sion to complain of a scarcity of insects 

 here now. Our enterprising fruit growers 

 and nurserymen have imported numberless 

 species from all quarters of the globe, to 

 add to our natural resources in this line." 



i^^ We have received so many encour- 

 aging letters and also numerous notices 

 printed in newspapers throughout the 

 country, that we must express our thanks 

 through these columns instead of letters. 



It will be our constant endeavor to seek 

 to instruct the many who know little or 

 nothing of entomology. To do so success- 

 fully we shall depend a great deal on good 

 illustrations, and in proportion as our 

 efforts meet with substantial support, we 

 shall liberally illustrate the magazine. 



Disintegration of the Genus Acro- 

 NYCTA. — Mr. Butler communicated a paper 

 (illustrated by an exhibition of preserved 

 larvae from Lord Walsingham) " On the 

 affinities of the British moths usually placed 

 in the genus Acronyctay He referred these 

 to various old (mostly) Hiibnerian genera, 

 and the result of his analysis was as fol- 

 lows : A rumicis and auricoma should be 

 transferred to the Arcfiidce, leporina and 

 aceris to the Liparidce ; megacephala, psi, 

 iridens strigosa, etc., to the Notodontidce, 

 whereas only alni and Hgustri remained in 

 the Noctiiid^. — Proc. I>ondon (Eng.) Ent. 

 Soc. Nov. 5th, 1879. 



Errata. — Page 3, for " xanthomelina " 

 read ^^ xanthomelcena." Page 3, 2nd col., 

 line 24, transpose " Sonoma " and " Napa." 

 Page 20, 2nd col., line 7, for '''' Libellutie" 

 read ^^ Libel/ it I i da;." 



On Our Table. 



On Litophane and New Noctuida;. By A. R. Grote. 8vo. 

 pp. 8. (Ext. from Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Surv. Vol. V, 

 No. 2.) Washington, Sept. 6, 1879. From the Author. 



Eighth Report of the State Entomologist on the Noxious 

 and Beneficial Insects of the State of Illinois. Third Annual 

 Report by Cyrus Thomas,' Ph. D. 8vo. pp. 212. From the 

 Author. 



The Gardener's Monthly and Horticulturist. Vol. XII. 

 No. 253. Jan. 1880. Philadelphia. From the Publishers. 



Butterflies and Moths in their connection with Agriculture 

 and Horticulture. A paper prepared for the Pennsylvania 

 Fruit Growers' Society, Jan. 1879. By Herman Strecker. 8vo. 

 pp. 22. From the Author. 



The Butterflies of North America. By W. H. Edwards. 

 Second series. Part VIII. 4to. 3 plates. Hurd & Hough- 

 ton, Boston. 



The Kansas City Review of Science and Industry. Vol. Ill, 

 No. 9. Jan. 1880. From the Publishers. 



Eighth Annual Report of the Curators of the Museum of 

 W^esleyan University. Middletown, Conn. 8vo. pp. 15. 



Annual Address of V. T. Chambers, Esq., President Cin- 

 cinnati Soc. Nat. Hist. (E.xt. from Journ. Cincinnati Soc. 

 Nat. Hist. Vol. II, No. 2. July 1879.) 8vo. pp. 22. From 

 the Author. 



Description of the Storm of Easter Sunday, April 21, 1878. 

 in Iowa. By Dr. Gustavus Hinrichs, Director of the Iowa 

 Weather Service. 8vo. pp. 80. 6 plates. 



The Maryland Farmer. Vol. XVII, No. 1. Jan. 1880. 

 From the Publisher. 



List of a Collection of Aculeate Hymenoptera made by Mr. 

 S. W. Williston in Northwestern Kansas. By W. H. Patten. 

 8vo. pp. 22. (Ext. from Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geogr. Surv. 

 Vol. V, No. 3.) Washington, Nov. 30, 1879. From the Author. 



On Sex in Castanea Americana. Verb. Comm. By Thomas 

 Meehan. 8vo. pp. 22. (Ext. from Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Phila., July 8, 1879.) From the Author. 



Proceedings of the New-Jersey State Horticultural Society. 

 1876-77-78. From the Secretary. 



