This paper is the first of a series in which it is proposed, by members of the edirorial staff alternately, to describe some of our more common insects, to illustrate them with suitable cuts, and to make the descriptions of so plain a character that the most unscientific reader may be able readily to comprehend their meaning. Since it is one of our aims in publishing the Entomologist to popularize our favorite science, we shall offer no apology for introducing into our journal these readable papers, in which much material may from time to time appear, which, to the scientific reader, may look stale and uninviting.

Papilio Asterias. Now sought to be changed to Polyxenes, although from the time of Fabricius to the publication of Kirby's Catalogue (1871). no other name than asterias has been in use. The species has been repeatedly figured as asterias in these hundred years, and under this name is well known to everyone who takes the least interest in these things.

In the second volume (1863,) of the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, I published a paper on some of our Lepidopterous larvae, and among other descriptions there appeared one purporting to be that of Plusia balluca. By some unfortunate mishap a description of the larva of V. interrogationis was sent in place of the intended one of balluca, and the mistake was not discovered until after the number had been issued, while all trace of the original description of the larva of balluca was lost. I did not again meet with this larva until the summer of 1871, when a fresh description was taken on the l5th of June, as follows

“The American Naturalist” for May, 1871, contains an interesting article on “Flying Spiders,” by J. H. Emerton. The species noticed by him are, no doubt, allied to the gossamer of Europe, and the phenomenon occurs early in autumn on the Islands of the St. Lawrence.

During the month of July, 1871, while trout-fishing on a large lake near the Upper Assumption, about one hundred miles north of Montreal, my attention was drawn to an inflated transparent substance of an oblong cocoon shape, passing about fifty yards over my head.

The following communication includes two genera of Chalcidiae,Perilampus, and Callimome. Perilampus is known in America from Canada to Mexico. P. hyalinus Say, inhabits Canada; P. cyaneus Brulle and P. Entellus Walk. are synonyms of it. Say has described two other species, P. platigaster and P. triangularis; the latter is distinguished from all other species by the dark tips of the wings. P. Alexinus Walk differs from P. platigaster by not having a brassy tinge, by the luteous tips of the femora, and by the luteous tibiae with a black band.