[January 1885. - BULLETIN BROOKLYN ENTOM. SOC. VOL. VIL. 127 
used by him. Mr. Casey establishes the genus Areus for those forms in which 
the 4th tarsal joint is bilobed; but admits that it is perhaps unnecessary. He 
has had at least one predecessor who believed as he did. We quote Motschulsky 
(Bull. Mose. 1860, I, p. 556 and 557 : ‘Il me parait juste de séparer les espéces 
4 quatriéme article des tarses bilobé comme genre particulier, de ceux qui l’ont 
simple et pour lesquelles on peut laisserle nom Stenus, tandisque pour le premi- 
eres je proposerais celui de Hemistenus.” Areus therefor isa synonym of Hemi- 
sienus Mots. and will probably not be recognized at present by American Co- 
leopterists. Asa whole, Mr. Casey’s paper is a notable and desirable addition 
to our literature. 
Society News. 
Nov. 27th. - Twelye members present: Mr. Smith in the chair. Messrs. 
Angell and Beutenmuller, proposed at the October meeting were elected mem- 
bers of the Society. The proposition of the Ent. Soe. ‘‘Iris” of Diesden for an 
exchange of publications was accepted. J etters were read from Prof. Riley and 
Mr Clarkson, in ve the habits of Rhyssu, and those letters were discussed and 
ordered published. 
“A note on Dynastes” by Mr. Doll was read by Mr. Smith, and offered for 
publication. Mi Smith read a paper on ‘Species, Varieties and Races” which 
was offered for publication. Messrs. Hulst, Leng and Roberts joined in the 
discussion of the paper, My. Hulst thinks color in some cases may become a 
structural ¢c} avacter, and structural characters— so called may prove less reliable 
than color ‘The variation in the venation of the Geometride was cited, and the 
presence and absence of spurs on the hind tibia of one of the same species was 
referred to. Still in the main he agreed with Mr. Smith’s views. Messrs. Leng 
and Roberts favored a name to designate every decided and well distinguishable 
form, whether the peculiarity is in coloration or otherwise, they favored a name 
/o express a definite idea of a combination of structure and color and when the 
variation reached a point at which the combination failed to accord with the 
idea expressed by the name, a new name should be given. Their views were to 
the point that not only genera, but species were artificial divisions established 
to aid recognition of forms, and incapable of being absolutely limited. 
Mr. Gade exhibited some specimens of wings bleached by the process sug- 
gested by Prof. Marsh for bleaching microscopic sections. i.e. by chlorine gas 
generated by hydrochloric acid or chloride of potash and led from the jar 
in which it is generated, into another, half filled with water. The result is 
excellent; but the time required is much greater than by the ‘“‘Dimmock’’ 
process. 
A proposition was made to change the evening of meetings to Tuesday, as 
many inembers were unable to attend on Saturday evening. Mr. Leng was di_ 
rected to prepare a suitable resolution for the amendment of the by laws and _ it 
is desired that members send in thei views concerning such change. 
Dec. 29th.—Twenty-one members and visitors present, the President in the 
chair. Reports from the Executive and Publications Committee were presented; 
and also a notice that a motion for an amendment to the by-laws changing the 
night of meeting to the first Tuesday of each month, would be made at the next 
