292 General Notes. (March, 
describes eight new species of flowering plants from S. W. United 
States; C. H. Peck notices a new genus (Neopeckia) established 
by Saccardo, while Dr. Vasey describes two new Western grasses. 
Lists of the plant catalogues of Indiana, Illinois, Michigat 
and Wisconsin are given in the same number by W. 
and N. L. Britten. Henry and James Groves continue thei 
notes on British Characeze in the January Journal of Botany 
recording and figuring Chara braunii, found in Britain for the 
first time last September. G. Baker, in the same number 
continues his synopsis of the genus Selaginella, bringing the 
number of species up to one hundred and nine — Dr. Farlo 
Notes on the cryptogamic flora of the White mountains in Ap. 
palachia (Jan., 1884) is an interesting contribution to our kn 
edge of the lower plants of this region. Six new — 
fungi are described, viz., Doassansia epilobit, Propolis 
Stictis tsuge, Cercospora pyri, Ramularia oxalidis. 
ENTOMOLOGY. 
EGG-LAYING HABITS OF THE EGG-PARASITE OF THE Co 
worm.—In our “ Guide to the Study of Insects,” (p. 200) bi its 
briefly referred to a minute species of Platygaster which lays 
eggs in those of the canker worm. e noticed oe 
day (Nov. 28, 1863, or a year or two earlier) two of these i 
gasters upon two bunches of freshly laid eggs u p d 
worm moth, probably Anisopteryx pometaria Mann. room 
the eggs and ichneumons in a box, and returning tO wn 
at the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, watched 
of the minute Platygasters with a lens of twenty- 
One of them thrust its hind body down between the a 
while the rest of the body was still, and supported by oe 
hind legs, the wings resting on the top of the egg oe seent 
the antennæ were constantly vibrating. There cou e pushing 
slight motion of the abdomen, the ovipositor meanwhi y ovipos , 
and boring into the side of the egg. The operation es Wha 
tion required from one to three, generally three, mio o 
the egg had been deposited in the right place, e han belo 
ran swiftly about, vibrating its antenne more rapidly t its abó” 
until finding a suitable egg it suddenly paused, dro ae 
men down between the eggs, and went through the så jy take ® ) 
vres as we have described. Sometimes it would der | 
The other Platygaster kept on the under prer on ov 
unity 7 
rom egs 
It was very uneasy, and would constantly run about E te . 
and sharp ovipositor, and apparently try to 
durate shell without success, It never attempt 
