660 General Notes. [ August, 
and the text is written with considerable literary ability ——Mr. 
Ridgway gives a list of the species of birds of Illinois which is 
critical and verv full, including 341 species. 
ENTOMOLOGY.’ 
Tite Eco-case AND LarvA OF HyDROPHILUS TRIANGULARIS SAY, 
As the nidus and young of this beetle do not appear to have been 
observed, a few notes gathered from an examination of several 
egg-cases and of larve hatched from them may be of interest. 
The cases were collected about the first of June, 1876, from a 
small pool of water in the Normal School grounds at this place. 
A half dozen were obtained floating at the surface of the water, 
with bits of weeds and dead leaves attached to the upper surface 
as floats (Fig. 1). In no case were they secured to living plants, 
fete ee + 
1.—Eggs, egg-case and larva of Hydrophilus, nat. size; @ air-tube, 4 €x- 
panded lower portion of tube; ¢ opening into nidus; @ eggs shown in vertical sec- 
tion of nidus; ¢ empty under portion of the case; f chambers above eggs; £ larva. 
€Garman del.) 
as the egg-case of H. piceus is said to be. In one instance @ 
female was discovered finishing her case. The last touches were 
being put on the expanded lower portion of the “horn” (Fig. 1, 6), 
this part of the latter being then of a rich yellow color. 42° 
nidus and its maker were lifted gently in the hand and carried @ 
vessel of water: finished her task. When the case was next 
observed the yellow material had been concealed by a brown 
gummy coating. | 
The surface of the egg-case is smooth, light brown, and re- 
sembles very closely that of the nidus of the large black and 
yellow spider, Argiope riparia (2). Viewed from above or below, 
the outline is a good circle. The diameter is about 20™, * 
‘This department is edited by Pror. C. V. Ritey, Washington, D. C., t0 whom 
communications, bouks for notice, etc., should be sent. 
