194; rAugnst, 



Dryophanta disticha. — This gall, which Cameron gives as " rare," is abundant 

 in a wood near here just now. I could send specimens to any one requiring it. Can 

 any one send rne the cotton gall {A. ramuli) ?— Id. 



Spilochalcis maricB, Riley. — Some months ago Mr. Morris, of Kew, sent to 

 Jamaica a number of cocoons of Attacus Cynthia which he had obtained from M. 

 Wailly. They were placed in my care at the Museum, and many of them produced 

 a parasitic Chalcid, these insects emerging some time before any of the moths. I 

 sent some of the Chalcids to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and Mr. L. O. 

 Howard writes me that Mr. Ashmead has identified them as Spilochalcis mariee. 

 This is a well-known parasite of A. Cynthia and allied moths in America, and, as 

 Mr. Howard remarks, it must have been introduced into England. — T. D. A. 

 CocKERELi, Las Cruces, New Mexico : June, 1893. 



[We are informed by Mons. Wailly that tlie cocoons of A. Cynthia referred to 

 were imported by him from America. The occurrence is interesting, as proving 

 the vitality of both moth and parasite under the circumstances. — Eds.]. 



Pith of New Zealand Flax. — In the Ent. Mo. Mag. for February and March I 

 notice your remarks and those of Mr. Coryndon Matthews on the use of artichoke 

 pith and felt for mounting small insects. I herewith forward a sample of another 

 material which I find to answer admirably for the same purpose ; it is the pith of 

 the dried flower stems of the New Zealand flax (Phorniinm tenax). Although, 

 perhaps, not quite equal to artichoke pith, it is, nevertheless, an excellent article for 

 fine work and for lining store boxes. It is obtainable in unlimited quantities in 

 pieces varying from one inch to two inches square, and can be easily cut to the 

 required thickness. It is extremely light and clean, and the larger square pieces when 

 grooved in the centre make setting boards second to none for Micro- Lepidoptera. 

 What do you think of it ? — W. W. Smith, Ashburton, New Zealand: May '[Mh, 

 1893. 



[Mr. Smith kindly forwarded samples of this pith. It is of extreme lightness 

 and tolerably fine in texture, though not equalling artichoke pith in this latter 

 respect. It does not turn the points of Nos. 19 and 20 English pins, save towards 

 the outside margins of the pieces (this could be obviated by trimming). For lining 

 store boxes, &c., I consider it decidedly preferable to Agave pith. Its texture is 

 scarcely fine enough for mounting specimens on for the cabinet, and for this purpose 

 its colour (a kind of pale purplish-brown) is also objectionable ; but it is just possible 

 the colouring matter might be discharged by some process. — R. McLachlan]. 



ttuarjj. 



Francis PolJcinghorne Pascoe, F.L.S., ^c, was born at Penzance on Sept. 1st, 

 1813, and died at Brighton June 20th, 1893. He was educated at the Grammar 

 School of his native town, and subsequently entered at St. Bartholomew's Hospital 

 as a student. He was admitted M.R.C.S. in 1835, and soon afterwards obtained 

 an appointment in the Navy as Surgeon, serving on the Australian, West Indian 

 and Mediterranean Stations. In 1843 he married Miss Q-lasson, of Falmouth, and 



