State Museum of Natural History. 



49 



proportion of insects require, of a large amount of material, nor pro- 

 vision for its safe-keeping — much less for its display. 



The total number of specimens collected and mounted is twelve 

 hundred and twenty. They are contained in the several orders as 

 follows : 



Hymenoptera 50 



Lepidoptera 237 



Diptera 152 



Coleoptera 372 



Heniiptera 322 



Orthoptera 17 



Neuroptera 25 



Biological. 45 



The number of species cannot at present be named, as much of the 

 material has not yet been studied. A large portion of it will be 

 available for distribution to the educational institutions of the State or 

 for exchange. 



In addition to the above, the following collections have been made : 



Larvae of Lepidoptera, etc., in alcohol, approximately. 250 



Unmounted Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, etc., approximately 350 



Unmounted Biological specimens, approximately 500 



Pupae from larvae collected, hybernating 130 



The aggregate number of specimens collected, as appears from the 

 above, is two thousand four hundred and fifty. 



The collections have mainly been made in Middleburgh, Schoharie 

 Co., at Elk lake, in Essex Co., in the town of Hammond, St. Lawrence 

 Co., and in Albany. 



Insects of Special Interest. 



Among those at Middleburgh were a number of Trypetidce, of the 

 group in which the wings are exquisitely marked with clouds and spots 

 in the beautiful patterns which have been so admirably delineated in 

 the four plates of Baron Osten Sacken, and the late Dr. Loew of 

 Prussia, in their valuable monographs of this interesting family. 

 These flies had seldom fallen under my observation before, and then in 

 only single examples ; but at this time (middle of July) and place 

 they were not at all uncommon, traveling, with the strange move- 

 ments peculiar to them, over the leaves of the milkweed (Asclejiias) 

 and wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), upon which the species may 

 perhaps breed. 



The time of my visit to Elk lake — Aug. 15-30 — was favorable for 

 the collection of two species of butterflies which are rarely met with 

 in this State, except in localities having high elevations, approximat- 

 ing that of Elk lake, which is 2,000 feet above tide. Gvapta Faunus 

 (Edw.) and Graptaj '-album (Boisd.-Lec.) were comparatively abundant 

 in the roadway leading to the lake, resting for a while upon the damp soil 

 to imbibe its moisture and then flitting away to the adjoining shrubbery. 

 Both species had evidently but just emerged from their pupal stage. 

 Of another species of butterfly — Feniseca Tarqmnius (Fabr.), which 

 appears to be quite local in its distribution and to occur more fre- 

 quently within this State, in the Adirondack region than elsewhere, 

 several examples were captured, but all in indifferent condition, show- 

 ing that they had already been abroad for a number of days. Its 



[Sen/Dec. No. GO.] 7 



