426 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., '13 



mus, 54 species, (pp. lxxvi, lxxviii), the Cerambycids Clytarlus, 14 spp., 

 and PlagithmysuSj 33 spp., the latter often mistaken by non-entomolo- 

 gists for crickets or grasshoppers (pp. cxvi-cxix), the Selidosemid moth 

 Scotorythra, 34 spp., and its allies (p. cl), the Hemerobiid Nesomicro- 

 mus. 22 spp., the Chrysopid Anomalochrysa, 29 spp., and the peculiar 

 Odonata referred to Agrion, 26 spp., (p. clxxi). A fuller list is given 

 on p. lii. 



Although our author remarks : "The absence of gaily colored native 

 butterflies or diurnal moths prevents the insects from making any 

 conspicuous showing. It is doubtful whether to ordinary observers 

 there is, excepting the fine Pyrantels tammeamea, a single insect that 

 would be considered beautiful" (p. xxxi), the Hawaiian insects, never- 

 theless, present some interesting color-phenomena. Thus, the "general 

 tendency to blackness of the Hawaiian Aculeata as a whole is one of 

 their most remarkable features." The wasps of the genus Odyncrus 

 (s. 1.), however, show many instances of conspicuous red or yellow 

 markings. If they be divided up into a number of color groups, "these 

 are entirely different from groups based on structure and real affinity. . 

 . .these color groups occur on each island and some of them, indeed, 

 are only found on one of the islands" (p. xciii). Although this in- 

 stance is similar to those commonly referred to mimicry, Dr. Perkins 

 thinks that neither this nor any other explanation yet suggested is 

 satisfactory. 



Species of the moth Scotorythra mentioned above are sometimes 

 present in immense numbers and their larvae, by defoliating the trees, 

 suffer from famine. "Native birds attracted in thousands by the 

 abundance of [the larvae], one of their favorite foods, were gorged 

 to repletion, and the starving caterpillars formed writhing masses on 

 the ground beneath the tall Koa trees. The dropping of excrement 

 from the trees on the dead leaves beneath made a rattling noise as of 

 a hailstorm" (p. cli). 



"Stcgomyia fasciata and scutellaris are well-known to all inhabitants 

 as the 'day-mosquito' " and a case of yellow fever has been reported 

 (p. clxxxi). The Sarcophagids Dyscritomyia, and Prosthctochacta pass 

 their larval stages in dead land Mollusca such as the famous Achati- 

 nellas (p. clxxxvi). There are no endemic Muscidae, but a number 

 of foreign representatives (p. clxxxvii). 



The majority of the Orthoptera are introduced, most of the native 

 species being crickets, one of which (Paratrigonidium) is responsible 

 for the song credited by the natives to Achatinella Cp. ccxxvV The 

 endemicity of the spiders is greater than that known in any other 

 country (ccxi). 



These scattered extracts will give some idea of the many interesting 

 topics touched on and discussed in Dr. Perkins' Essay. The accom- 

 panying plates contain likenesses of Chas. R. Bishop, W. H. Flower. 



