200 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Vol. vi. 



Meeting of December 7, 1897. 



Held at the American Museum of Natural History. 



President Palm in the chair. Fourteen members present. 



Mr. Daecke stated that it would be advisable to arrange for a series 

 of classes for beginners to foster an interest in the study of entomology, 

 and thought that the Society ought to undertake this task. 



Dr. Martin read a paper entitled " On Collecting in New York City 

 Forty Years Ago." He stated that he began collecting insects in Al- 

 bany, and then came to this city and collected for about ten years. 

 He collected principally in Washington Square, which in the fifties was 

 a very different place from the Washington Square of to-day. The 

 trees were mostly poplar, buttonwood, locust and weeping willow. He 

 gave a graphic description of the features, and also mentioned the fol- 

 lowing as some of the insects caught there : Two species of Catocala, 

 Vanessa antiopa, Grapta comma and interrogationis , Limenitis di-- 

 sippus, a Sesia, much like apiformis, in the roots of poplar, Brontes 

 dub ins, Saperda calcarata, Parandra brunnea, Dor cits parallelus , Ptero- 

 stichus lucublandus , Neoclytus erythrocephalus, Caloides nobilis, Ela- 

 phriis ruscarius, Cotalpa lanigera, several species of Lachnosterna, 

 Staphylinus , Chloznius, Harpalus and also many Hynienoptera and 

 Diptera. He stated that the black species of Ophion and Pelecinus 

 poly c era tor were very common. Several species of Agapostemon on Al- 

 thea flowers were also abundant. The canker-worms at that time 

 swarmed over everything, but after the introduction of the English 

 sparrow they gradually disappeared. Calosoma scrutator, C. calidium 

 and C. externum were abundant and fed on the canker-worms. Rha- 

 gium lineatum was also to be found. He further stated that during that 

 time Oxacis dorsalis was to be found at Sandy Hook under logs and 

 pieces of wood. 



Mr. Beutenmuller said that this insect was yet to be found at Sandy 

 Hook near the old steamboat landing, and he also exhibited larvae of 

 Eudcemonia argus and argiphontes. 



Mr. Southwick made a few remarks on his work in Central Park, 

 and said that with a little more help at certain seasons of the year he 

 could manage to get rid of the O/ygia leucostigma. 



Mr. Doll exhibited a fine series of Schinia brevis caught near Brook- 

 lyn. He also showed some striking varieties of Vanessa antiopa lacking 

 the blue spots. 



After discussion, adjournment. 



