13 



The remarks of the author on synonymy, nomenclature and priority, seem to me to 

 be most excellent and worthy of serious consideration. In an extended discussion 

 of the merits of the descriptions of Diptera of the late Mr. Walker of the British 

 Museum, he characterizes them as so extremely superficial — descriptive rather of the 

 specimen than of the species, that in his opinion, they should be entitled to no claim for 

 priority whenever they cannot be positively identified without an examination of the type 

 specimen. Thus, of twenty-six species of DoHchopus described by him, not a single one 

 could be recognized. The question suggests itself, to what extent might this rule be 

 extended to descriptions in the other orders of insects by this author, and in general, to 

 the writings of other authors. 



In considering the number of Diptera, Osten Sacken believes, that rejecting those 

 descriptions which will probably prove irrecognizable, the number of described Diptera 

 of North America, north of Mexico, will hardly reach 2,500; that the undescribed 

 material at present in collections, if worked up, would perhaps double the number ; and 

 that when the long neglected order shall have received the attention given to the Coleop- 

 tera, it will equal if not exceed the latter, numerically. 



Eeference at the present to studies in the Diptera, naturally suggests the great loss 

 which Dipterology has sustained in the recent death — in April last — of the distinguished 

 Prussian Dipterist, Dr. H. Loew, long known as one of the most eminent cultivators of 

 this branch of Entomology. During the last twenty years he has been engaged in the 

 study of North American Diptera, and at the request of the Smithsonian Institution he 

 has prepared a series of monographs, three volumes of which (Parts i., ii. and iv.) have 

 been published by that Institution. While his removal from his work at this stage of its 

 progress, cannot but be deeply deplored, there is a consolation to be found in the know- 

 ledge that it is not to be wholly arrested, but that a worthy collaborator — Baron Osten 

 Sacken — remains to conduct it to a completion, we hope, of the plan proposed. 



The series of Dimmock's Special Bibliographies, now being published at Cambridge, 

 Mass., will prove to be of eminent service to the student who desires to avail himself of 

 the literature of our insects, so widely scattered through the various scientific and popular 

 journals, government surveys, and other publications. Two numbers of the series have 

 been issued — the first containing a complete list to date, it is believed, of the Entomo- 

 logical writings of Dr. John L. LeConte, and the second, those of Dr. George H. Horn. 

 A third, of the writings of Mr. S. H. Scudder, is nearly completed. I regret that it has 

 been thought necessary, in this series, to dispense wholly with the use of capitals in all 

 scientific names, even in the family and ordinal divisions, and I believe that many of you 

 will agree with me in claiming for the royalty of science exemption from conformity to 

 an innovation based on mere convenience. 



Prof. 0. V. Riley and J. Monell have contributed to the Bulletin of the U. S. 

 Geolog.-Geograph. Survey (vol. v., pp. 1-32) a paper entitled Notes of the Aphididce of the 

 United States, with Descriptions of Species Occurring West of the Mississippi. Part I con- 

 tains extended biological notes on the Pemphiginse, by Prof. Riley, and Part II., notes on 

 AphidinaB with descriptions of new species, by Mr. Monell. The paper, illustrated by two 

 plates, is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of these exceedingly interesting insects. 



A special Report from the Department of Agriculture, entitled, The Silk-worm, being 

 a brief Manual of Instruction for the Production of Silk, has been prepared by Prof. Riley, 

 and largely distributed by the Department, to meet the demand from various portions of 

 the United States for information upon the important industry of silk-culture. The 

 Manual is quite full in the natural history of the Silk-worm, in the methods of culture, 

 and directions for reeling the cocoons. There seems no reason why this industry, 

 properly fostered, may not be made to add materially to the productive resources of our 

 country. 



Abstracts of the papers presented by Prof. Riley at the St. Louis meeting of the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science, have been published in the Pro- 

 ceedings of the Society, and also in a separate pamphlet. Among these are Notes on 

 the Life-History of the Blister Beetles and on the Structure and Development of Hornia ; on the 

 Larval Characteristics of Corydalus and Chauliodes, and A New Source of Wealth to the 

 United States [Sericulture]. 



