212 



ticularly well informed concerning the coleopterous fauna of Africa, 

 nearly all of the 37 entomological articles which he has published since 

 1880 referring to this subject. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



Novemher 3, 1892. —Dr. George Mars presented a paper on spider's web, showing 

 specimens of a x>eculiar fleecy substance whicb had been sent in to the National 

 Museum from California, and wbicb bad more recently been collected in Florida in 

 large masses after a rain storm. Some difference of opinion existed as to the nature 

 of tbe substance, but after careful chemical and microscopical tests, Dr. Marx de- 

 cided that it was composed of masses of threads of gossamer spiders, collected in 

 the air by winds and thrown to the ground in rain storms. Discussed by Messrs. 

 Eiley, Stiles, Fernow, Howard, Mann, Ashmead, Marlatt, and Schwarz. 



Mr. Howard then read two paj^ers by Mr. Townsend entitled ^"^ Notes on certain 

 Cecidomyiidous Galls on Cornus," and ''Notes on some Cecidomyiidte of the vicinity 

 of Washington, D. C." The latter paper contained notes upon Cecidomyia serrulatce, C. 

 clirysopsidis and Diplosis resinicola. These papers were discussed by Messrs. Eiley, 

 Ashmead, Marlatt, Howard, and Schwarz. 



]Mr. Chittenden presented for publication a paper entitled " Biologic Notes on some 

 Species of Scolytidse." 



Following the reading of the papers specimens were exhibited by Messrs. Schwarz 

 and Ashmead. 



December 1, 1892. — The following officers were elected: 



President, C. V. Riley; vice-presidents, W. H. Ashmead and C. W. Stiles; record- 

 ing secretary, C. L. Marlatt; corresponding secretary, L. 0. Howard; treasurer, 

 E. A. Schwarz; executive committee, the officers and Dr. W. H. Fox, Dr. Geo. 

 Marx, and Mr. B. E. Fernow, Mr. Frank Benton was elected an active member. 



The retiring president. Dr. C. V. Riley, delivered his annual address on the subject 

 of "Parasitism in Insects." The address began with a definition of the term and a 

 classification of the subject, and then treated in detail the following subdivisions: 

 (1) The Parasites among Insects proper, by Orders; (2) Origin of Insect Parasitism; 

 (3) Effects of the Parasitic Life; (4) Economic bearings of the subject. At the 

 conclusion of the address, on motion of Dr. Gill, the thanks of the Society were voted 

 to the president. 



E. W. DORAN, 



Recording Secretary, pro tern. 



