INTRODUCTION. 
Ins. 3 
INTRODUCTION. 
The number of titles in this Record is 1512, comparing with 1525 last 
year. 
The first part of Mr Sherborn’s (1264) Index of names of genera and 
species has appeared. Though the w 7 ork at present extends only from 
a.d. 1778 to 1800 it is nevertheless of considerable importance, and in¬ 
cludes a valuable bibliographic list. If the work can be completed it will 
be of very great value. 
In a brief note (841) Herr Luze raises some questions of great practical 
importance about types, and makes some, to a certain extent reasonable- 
suggestions about them. 
Dalla Torre’s Catalogue of Hymenoptera is completed, and tw 7 o Yols. 
of a general Catalogue of Diptera have appeared, Kertesz (678). 
Last year gave us Staudinger & Rebel’s catalogue of palcearctic 
Lepidoptera , and this year we have received Dyar’s (367) extremely useful 
North American list. 
Melichar (892) has completed his monograph of Flatides, of which he 
recognises 85 genera. M. d’Orbigny in his memoir on Onthophagus (979) 
describes something near 200 new species from Africa. This is the 
largest number of new species of one genus -1 have had to record in 
18 years, and this in a genus that includes already about 1000 known 
species. As the genus is one of the most widely distributed the number 
of species in it must prove to be very great. In Diptera some very 
curious aberrant forms of Phoridce —or allied thereto—have been described, 
Brues (169), Wasmann (1449, 1450). 
- Senor Tavares (1356) has made known a remarkable jumping 
gall, and has also to a certain extent explained the mechanics of its 
movement. 
Comstock (278), assisted by Ivochi, makes a contribution to the 
anatomy and morphology of the capsule of the head: and Kellogg (668) 
gives a valuable paper on the homologies and development of the mouth- 
parts, taking into consideration the metamorphotic period of the develop¬ 
ment. It is probable however that the settlement of the questions he 
discusses is not so near at hand as he supposes; for it is evident that a 
great deal depends on the view taken as to the nature of the secondary 
differentiations that occur at the pupal period. The philosophical diffi¬ 
culties as to “ homology ” in the case of these secondary differentiations 
are very great. 
Dewitz (324) has some interesting experiments and suggestions as to 
Apterism; and his memoirs on the physiology (325—329) of metamor¬ 
phosis and coloration deserve attention. 
Of considerable importance is Exderlein’s paper on some abnormal 
wings of Lepidoptera (399). He carries the relation of nervures and 
tracheae in the wings a stage farther. The memoir includes some sug¬ 
gestions as to the phylogeny and relations of the Orders of Insects, and 
also remarks on the action of internal tendencies and external agencies. 
Miss Anthony’s paper (29a) suggests that the view taken by Gonin as 
to the mode in which the internal wing becomes external is correct. The 
Recorder (1255) has discussed the bearing of wing-development on the 
phylogeny of Insects. This subject much requires discussion; until it 
has been elucidated the ideas in vogue as to the relations of the Orders 
of Insects are in danger of subversion. 
Lepidopterists will read with pleasure the elaborate memoir of the 
Countess von Linden on the development of pattern (815). 
