83 
much time and patience had been expended on the part of the ento- 
mologist that the officials concluded that the butterflies came under the 
domain of science and art and were not subject to duty. 
A ORITICISM OF CIRCULAR NO. 1 OF THIS DIVISION. 
In the Scientific American of July 25, Mr. N. W. Motheral, of Han- 
ford, Cal., criticises the resin, caustic soda, and fish-oil wash given upon 
page 4 of circular No. 1 of this division as a remedy against the San 
José scale (Aspidiotus perniciosus), stating that it is not only compara- 
tively worthless but harmful to the tree. In recommending this wash 
we distinctly stated that it should only be applied in winter or during 
the dormant period, and that during the growing period it will cause the 
loss of foliage and fruit. As a substitute, Mr. Motheral recommends a 
mixture of lime and sulphur diluted with water. This mixture, while it 
will probably destroy the young lice during their hatching period, will, 
in our estimation, have no effect upon theinsects after the scale is formed, 
while the resin wash absolutely prevents hatching. - 
THE HOST PLANTS OF NORTH AMERICAN APHIDID A. 
Another new worker comes forward in the person of Mr. T. A. Wil- 
- liams, of South Dakota, who has just published, as special bulletin No. 1 
lie a ae 
from the Department of Entomology of the University of Nebraska, a 
tolerably complete list of the food-plants of the Aphidide of North 
America. The list seems full and will undoubtedly be of considerable 
value. We greatly regret, however, that the author has not made it 
bibliographical, at least to the extent of indicating the original descrip- 
tions of the species mentioned, for to use it in its present shape re- 
quires a thorough knowledge of the literature of the group. 
A NEW RADISH ENEMY IN CALIFORNIA. 
We have received from Dr. James H. Lowe, Knight’s Ferry, Cal., 
the eggs and newly hatched young of a bug which he found upon the 
leaves of Radish, and which is quite probably Murgantia munda. 
NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF TRYPOXYLON. 
We have received a valuable paper on the North American species 
of the Digger Wasps of the genus Trypoxylon, by Mr. William J. Fox, 
of Philadelphia. He finds twenty species in this genus, and carefully 
tabulates them, following his table with full descriptions of each species. 
The work is evidently done with such care that it encourages us in 
the hope that we have here a student who will eventually bring the fos- 
sorial Hymenoptera into such a condition that these interesting insects 
can be readily determined by collectors. 
