350 
NORTH AMERICAN TACHINID &. 
There are few families of Diptera of greater importance to the eco- 
nomic entomologist than the Tachinide, comprising as it does the chief 
parasitic Diptera which help to check many of our most injurious 
insects. Our former assistant, Prof. C. H. Tyler Townsend, now of the 
New Mexico Agricultural College, has recently taken up the study of 
these little flies which have been sadly in need of systematic study. He 
is publishing a series of papers in different entomological serials giving 
descriptions of new species and new genera. These fragmentary for- 
mal communications are doubtless looked upon by Prof. Townsend as 
merely preliminary and with a view of securing priority, and itis greatly 
to be hoped that they will ali be brought together in some future mon- 
ographic work by the same author. It is to be regretted that these 
descriptions are being published at the very time that the renowned 
Dipterologist, Dr. F. Brauer, is monographing the family, as we fear that 
synonyms which otherwise might be avoided will necessarily result. It 
may not be out of place to repeat here the warning of our friend Baron 
Osten Sacken, who is a master in systematic entomology and to whom 
North American Dipterology is more indebted than to anyoneelse. He 
Says in his last important contribution: 
If I am asked now what the desiderata for the future of this branch of science in 
America are, I would answer: 
1. Continue the publications of North American Diptera in monographs. 
2. Avoid as much as possible the publication of detached species either singly, 
or in numbers. 
The cases where the publication of detached species of Diptera can be really use- 
ful in the present state of American Dipterology are rare, and will easily suggest 
themselves to the good sense of the unprejudiced. 
Conscientious monographs are always useful. 
NEW SPECIES OF COLEOPTERA.* 
We have received from Captain Casey a copy of his third paper of 
‘Coleopterological Notices,” which is a continuation of a series begun 
in 1889 in Vol. v of the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 
In this paper the author furnishes a revision of the Cistelide of the 
United States, defines ten new genera, and describes as new upwards 
of 100 species, principally of the Heteromera and Cerambycide, many 
of them founded on unique specimens. The following genera are pro- 
posed: Chrotoma, Thesalia, Valenus, Idiobates, Palembus, Rues, Tedi- 
nus, Negalius, Adrimus, Dinocleus, all, except the last two mentioned, 
being established on single species. Synoptic tables are furnished of 
the following genera: Lyctus (including Trogoxylon), Polyphylla (P. 
10-lineata group), Tetropium, Rhopalophora, Crossidius, Sphenothecus, 
Ipochus, Psenocerus, Hyperplatys, Spalacopsis, Epitragus, Epitrag- 
*Coleopterological Notices, m1. By Thos. L. Casey. Extr. from Annals N. Y. 
Academy Sciences, Vol. v1, November, 1891. 
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