86 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Mesotrichia orthosiphonis, sp. nov. 



?. Length about 16 mm.; anterior wing about 14; width of 

 abdomen about 8^ ; face between the eyes about 4 mm. wide. Black; 

 the thorax above, the upper third or less of pleura, the first abdo- 

 minal segment above, and a patch in the middle of the second, all 

 covered with canary-yellow hair ; face with dull white hair, with 

 black intermixed ; cheeks with white ; vertex with black and whitish 

 mixed ; fiagellum clear red beneath, except at base ; frontal keel 

 between the antennas distinct but not high ; clypeus with strong 

 punctures, and a median smooth line ; pleura, except the upper part, 

 with dark fuscous hair ; tegulae ferruginous ; wings with the basal 

 half hyaline, the apical strongly reddened, with a purple (not at all 

 green) lustre ; legs with black or brown-black hair ; sides of abdomen 

 fringed with black hair ; extreme apex with a little tuft of ferruginous 

 hair. A species of the group of M. modesta, Smith, distinguished by 

 its very broad form, the mixed light and dark hair on face, and the 

 yellow patch on the second abdominal segment. From M. anicuia, 

 Vachal (which I have from Dr. Brauns), it is easily known by its 

 broader form, and paler, strongly reddish wings. 



Hah. Benguella ; at flowers of a species of mint of the genus 

 Orthosiphon (Wellman, 1473). 



ON MOUNTING COLEOPTERA. 

 By H. F. Fryer, F.E.S. 



It is with some hesitation I submit the following notes on 

 mounting. To the old coleopterist there is probably nothing in 

 them he does not know, and the practised hand will produce 

 good work by many different methods ; still, when I remember 

 my early difficulties, and the awful objects I produced — some of 

 which, species I have not met with again, still stare me in the 

 face — and contrast this former state of things with the com- 

 parative ease with which a beetle is set up now, I am tempted 

 to hope that some beginner may have his labours lightened by 

 the hints given below, possibly some waverer confirmed in his 

 faith, and, maybe, some collector induced to take up the study 

 of this most fascinating order, members of which occur nearly 

 everywhere, even in the most unlikely places, and which can be 

 collected throughout the whole year. 



Killing. — As far as my experience goes, the best method of 

 killing specimens for mounting is by plunging them for a few 

 seconds in water which is near the boiling point. An ordinary 

 ringed stand, used in chemical work, a small spirit-lamp, and 

 porcelain dish or crucible, is the most convenient apparatus, 

 and is ready for use five minutes after the lamp is lighted. 



The great advantage of this method is that the extinction of 



