Entomology. 179 



Dion that it is lepidopterous, probably belonging to the genus 

 Wepticula. 



I trust that ere long, some clever lepidopterist will enter this 

 field of study, which, as Mr. Stainton the English micro-lepidop- 

 terist says : — "Of all the groups of lepidoptera, perhaps none are 

 more interesting than the Tineina, and few, if any, so far from 

 being understood. The peculiarity of their forms in numerous 

 instances, the gorgeousness of their coloring, the wonderful beauty 

 of the pencilled markings of their wings, the fanciful and grotesque 

 position in which many of them delight to stand, the variety and 

 singularity of their transformations, all of these and other charac- 

 teristics render them uncommonly attractive ; while on the other 

 hand, their minuteness, the pains taken and the expertness mani- 

 fested by both larvae and perfect insects in concealing themselves, 

 or escaping if discovered, as well as the difficulty of obtaining 

 uninjured specimens, have thrown difficulties in the way of the 

 scientific student, if not insuperable, at least extremely perplexing 

 and tantalizing." 



I procured an entomological curiosity from the woods, which 

 serves to illustrate the parasitic family Chalcididoe ; the specimen 

 is worthy of notice as an interesting addition to my collection of 

 insect architecture. It is a small branch of the common alder 

 that had been last summer infested by a species of Coccus, which, 

 while alive, were attacked by a micro-ichneumon-fly of the above 

 family. The Coccidce occupying the upper section of the branches, 

 were of a whitish color, hence their detection with the naked eye. 

 Knowing at the time that vegetable parasites are occasionally in- 

 fested by other insects, led me to examine them with my pocket 

 magnifier which soon revealed that some minute insect occupied 

 the interior of each and every Coccus. The specimen is now in 

 my possession about twelve days, and since, I have with pleasure, 

 liberated an occasional issue of those eminently useful insects. 

 For a little insight into their economy, as well as to point out the 

 difference between the Cynipidce and Chalcididce, I quote the fol- 

 lowing from Harris, whose description will serve to determine 

 them : — " Gall insects are often destroyed by little parasites be- 

 longing to the family Chalcididce, and as these are liable to be 

 mistaken for the former, especially when coming from the same 

 gall, it may be well to point out the difference between them. 

 The four winged gall-flies have rather long, straight threadlike 

 and ascending antennae ; the fore-wings with a few veins, forming 



