THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 199 
With regard to insectivorous birds it is said that they seem to have 
certain fancies of their own as to what they will eat among insects. The 
canker-worm, which appears to be avoided by most birds, is eaten in large 
numbers by doves, and the martin will store up in its nest quarts of the 
common striped beetle of the potato, to the exclusion of other insects. 
Some interesting details are given in reference to the history and mode 
of life of the May Bug, Lachnosterna fusca, and also the Goldsmith Beetle, 
Cotalpa lanigera, both destructive to the roots of the strawberry. ‘The 
Bean Weevil, an insect which seems to be largely on the increase in New 
England, is noticed, and some suggestions given in regard to checking 
its further spread. The seventeen year Locust and other species of 
Locusts are also referred to, as well as several other less injurious as well 
as beneficial insects. 
A DISTINGUISHED FRENCH VISITOR.—At the September 9th meeting 
of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, among the distinguished 
Wisitors present were Prof. C: V. Riley, of St. Louis, and Dr. JE: 
Planchon, professor cf botany at Montpellier in France, the latter of whom 
is now in this country under authority of the French Government, to 
investigate our grape diseases. By invitation of the President, Dr. 
Ruschenber, Prof. Riley gave an account of the Phylloxera or grape vine 
root-louse, with his most recent discoveries in regard to the same. He 
had little doubt but the insect was at the root of most diseases that attack 
the grape in this country, as it was certainly in Europe. Prof. Leidy 
inquired of Mr. Riley the true position of the insect in scientific classifi- 
cation; Prof. Riley replied that it was not yet well settled. Its appear- 
ance brought it somewhere near the aphids, but it did not have successive 
broods from one impregnation ; aphids did. In this respect it approaches 
 Coccus. He thought it between the two families. 
Prof. Planchon described the ravages of the insect on the grape-roots 
in France, and thought them less destructive on the roots of American 
species of grapes than the European; and one of the objects of his 
mission was to ascertain this fact definitely, so that in Europe some 
American vines might be used as stocks for their vineyards. 
It was clear from the fact, that the European vines had been but 
recently attacked by it, and had suffered so severely from it; while in 
America—the home of the insect—the wild vines had done tolerably well 
