273 
as a ground work for taxonomy. He then makes an attempt to deter- 
mine the phylogeny of the families of the Lepidoptera by a study of 
the structure of the wing, working carefully in the direction of the 
probable function of the component parts of this organ and thus rea- 
soning as to the probable past action of natural selection. He realizes 
that in this study he is clearing up the history of but one element 
of the complex, but believes that the same lines will be found to govern 
in all and that an understanding of the development of one will lead 
in the same direction as regards classificatory results as an under- 
standing of other structural features. His study of the wing of Lepi- 
doptera has been made with extreme care. His conclusions as to evo- 
lutionary process may be questioned in some respects, particularly as 
to the distinction between generalized and specialized types, but the 
study as a whole is of the highest value. Applying the results of his 
study of the wings to a provisional classification of the Lepidoptera, he 
publishes a table of proposed divisions, simply as a record of the results 
obtained by his work. The table and the comments which follow are 
very suggestive, but, as a matter of course, it is too early to attempt 
their satisfactory use. Many interesting side points are brought out 
in the paper which will well repay careful study %n the part of the 
student and more particularly on the part of the species grinder. 
NOTES FROM THE MUSEUM OF THE INSTITUTE OF JAMAICA. 
A number of the interesting stylograph sheets issued by the curator 
of the Museum of the Institute of Jamaica, Mr. 0. H. T. Townsend, 
have reached us since the publication of our last number. These are 
Nos. 53 to 63. No. 52 relates to the Pimento Borer, a longicorn beetle 
(Cyrtomerus pilicornis), which bores into twigs of the Allspice (Pimenta 
vulgaris). No. 54 relates to the enemies of the Congo Pea (Cqjanus 
indicus). No. 55 relates to the subject of Jamaican Ticks j No. 56 to 
the Isopod parasites of fishes ; No. 57 to Erinose growths due to Mites; 
No. 58 to the Coco disease {Peronospora trichotoma); No. 59 to the Yel- 
low-fever Ply, the Sciara, which is said to appear in swarms during yel- 
low-fever epidemics. No. 60 is entitled " Grubs injuring roots of orange 
trees." These grubs are rhynchophorous, and belong to the genus Prce- 
jpodes. The damage seems to be only occasional. No. 61 is called 
" Sand Plies and Buffalo Gnats," and is general in its character, and 
also asks for specimens of Jamaican Simuliidae. No. 62 is on the 
Tobacco or Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne), which appears to 
be damaging stock tobacco and cigars in the warehouses in Kingston. 
The recommendations which have been published in Insect Life are 
repeated. In No. 63 the writer gives a short account of the habits of 
Compsomyia macellaria, and states that in some manuscript notes made 
by Mr. William Jones, between the years 1835 and 1810, the larva and 
adult of the Screw Worm Ply are described under the name of " the 
maggots of the nose," and seven cases are mentioned in which it has 
infested man in Jamaica. 
