1 882.] Entomology. 913 



J. M.Velasco gives, in La Naturaleza, complete proofs of the 



transformation into Amblystoma of the axolotls of the lakes 

 Xochimilco, Chalco and Zumpango, the last situated sixteen 

 leagues north of Mexico. The transformed axolotls are well 

 known in the localities round the lakes, and are called by various 

 names which signify the absence of branchiae, also by an Aztec 

 word signifying terrestrial axolotl. The lake of Santa Isabel 

 becomes dry every year. As the water lowers the axolotls com- 

 mence to change, and continue a terrestrial life ; but the axolotls 

 of the other lakes which contain excellent water and an abundant 

 vegetation, change also, and the transformed axolotls are common 

 under stones or in humid places in the mountains south ot 



Mexico. Professor Hy. Ward, in the Natural Science Bulletin, 



gives some interesting particulars relating to the Apteryx. There 

 are sixteen cervical vertebrae, short and strong, and resembling 

 those of the moa ; and eight dorsal vertebrae, the last anchylosed 

 to the sacrals, and bearing a small rib. The ribs, four of which 

 are joined to the sternum, are broader and flatter than those of 

 any other bird, differing greatly from the rounded ribs of the 

 Dinornis. The pelvis resembles that of the emeu in its length, 

 narrowness and flatness, while the legs arc much like those of the 

 dinornis, but have a comparatively longer femur. 

 ENTOMOLOGY. 1 



The Buckeye Leaf stem Borer. — In our account of the pro- 

 ceedings of the entomological sub-section of the A. A. A. S., at 

 the 1 88 1 meeting (see American Naturalist, 1S81, p. 1009), we 

 gave a short abstract of Mr. E. W. Claypole's paper on the above 

 insect, accepting the determination of the species as Serkorisin- 

 strutana and mentioning the fact that the work of Proteoteras ascu- 

 lana Riley, upon maple and buckeye, was very similar. A letter 

 recently received from Mr. Claypole, prior to sending his article 

 to press, and some specimens which he had kindly submitted to 

 us, permit of some corrections and definite statements. We have 

 a single specimen in our collection, bred from a larva found feed- 

 ing, in 1873 on the blossoms of buckeye, and identical with Mr. 

 Claypole's specimens, which are in too poor condition for descrip- 

 tion or positive determination. With this material and with Mr. 

 Claypole's observations and our own notes, the following facts are 

 established : 



1st. — We have Proteoteras ,rscnlana boring in the terminal 

 green twigs of both maple and buckeye, in Missouri, and often 

 Producing a swelling or pseudo-gall. Exceptionally it works in 

 the leaf-stalk It also feeds on the samara of maple, as we reared 

 the moth in Tune, 1881, from lame infesting these winged seeds 

 that had been collected by Mr. A. J. Wethersby, of Cincinnati, O. 



