"We are making a study of tree crickets and we are trying to ascertain 

 the distribution of different species, such as Oecanthus niveus, nigircornis, quad- 

 ripunctatus, latipennis and angustipennis. We find that these fall into three 

 groups and that our common species latipennis is the sole representative of one 

 group. There is a species in the southern states and Mexico known as ar- 

 gentinus Saus, which is apparently a close relative of latipennis. I am writing 

 to ask if you have specimens of it and are acquainted with its breeding habits. 

 If so, could we obtain from you specimens of its work and some specimens of 

 the insect itself? We will be glad to either buy the specimens or exchange 

 for representatives of other species." 



It will be a favor if our readers will assist Prof. Parrott. I fear that I 

 cannot. 



DETERMINING SEX OF MOTHS. 



E. J. Smith, Sherborn, Mass. 



In your directions for determining the sex of lepidoptera you do not 

 mention the frenulum. This is in some moths a much surer way than any 

 other except dissection. A few families of moths do not have it, but nearly 

 all do. It is always single in the male and composed of from two to six or 

 more bristles in the female. It is sometimes concealed so that a little denuding 

 is necessary. To do this I use a small paint brush about one-sixteenth of an 

 inch in diameter, the bristles of which have been cut off so as to make a rather 

 stiff and blunt end. With this I rub the under side of the wings gently, close 

 to the body, until the frenulum is exposed, and then with a lens of moderate 

 power it is easy to see whether there is more than one bristle. 



NAMING COLEOPTERA. 



H. P. Loding, R. F. D., Houston St., Mobile, Alabama, writes: 



"I take great interest in everything tending to promote the love of nature 

 study in all its branches, and while I have never myself studied or collected 

 with the view of being renumerated in any material way, I cannot help thinking 

 that you are on the right track, in these worldly times. By showing people that 

 there is money in the thing you will no doubt get a good many interested 

 and started collecting, and once initiated in the pleasures and delights of studying 

 nature the majority will stick to it, money or no money. I have been interested 

 in nature study since boyhood, or for over thirty years, my father being Pro- 

 fessor in Botany and Zoology in Denmark. Coleoptera has always been my 

 favorite. 



"In regard to naming your specimens of Coleoptera, I shall be glad to 

 render you any assistance in my power. Through many friends I have a nice 

 collection of correctly determined Coleoptera of the United States, and Cali- 

 fornia species are well represented. I have a fairly good working library and 

 would no doubt be able to determine a large proportion of your catch, but often 

 I have to appeal to my friends who are specialists in certain groups for assistance, 

 and very often the determination of certain species will be delayed for an 

 indefinite time. One learned Professor has had material of mine for study and 

 determination for several years and another for over one year, but it is some- 

 times impossible to reach a correct determination without studying a whole genus, 

 and then only with ample material. I would rather have an undetermined species 

 in my collection than one with a label which may prove wrong." 



On this subject Dr. Rensselaer J. Smith of Milpitas, Cal., says: 



87 



