824 General Notes. [August, 
small calyx admits of this robbery, whereas in red rattle (P. syl- 
vatica) the large leafy calyx acts as a safeguard.” While this 
may be and doubtless is true of the English Pedicularis, it is not 
so of our species; notwithstanding the leafy calyx, a large num- 
ber of the flowers of P. canadensis are bitten in just this way. 
Dr. W. J. Beal informs me that he has observed the same thing 
in P. lanceolata. wes 
This species illustrates an interesting point in regard to the 
relative time of secretion of nectar and the opening of the flower. 
In most flowers it is naturally supposed that the nectar is not 
secreted until the corolla is about to open. Dr. Ogle has shown 
that this is the case in the cow-wheat. In P. canadensis, however, 
the bee and butterfly visitors habitually plunder the buds by 
thrusting their tongues in between the folds of the corolla. Very 
often they thus plunder buds in which the corolla projects less 
than a quarter of an inch from the calyx, at least several days 
before the flowers will open. They certainly would not do this 
did they not obtain nectar. That a certain amount of honeys — 
also secreted after the corolla falls off is shown by the number of 
ants which visit the empty calyxes, as well as the occas P 
honey bees which visit them.— Clarence M. Weed, Lansing, Mic 
ENTOMOLOGY. ae 
HABITS OF AN AQUATIC PyRALID CATERPILLAR —The habits ® 
the caterpillars of the Hydrocampine, a group of Pyralid m pw 
are unusually interesting, and deserve special attention 1n = 
country. We quote from Guenée the following account i 
“ The principal title of the family of Hydrocampide to she 
of observers, resides in the habits of their caterpiiath Cue 
most popular entomologists, Réaumur, De Geer a | 
have observed and described them with all the details pag | 
on 
cylindrical tube of silk, and strengthens it with leaves 
the upper side. The case oy ogy AE that of Hydro wo 4 
_ that the tube it constructs is not like a sheath and forme“ ened 
bits of leaves, but is broadly cylindrical or oval, and Stre rerpilt ] 
all around by small leaves of Lemna, Moreover the d 
