There is in the study of Entomology a fascination and delight that captivates the imagination, and renders the enthusiast liable to construct theories based upon such slender foundations that they fail to reach the dignity of assured facts. This, I think, may be said of much that has been written concerning the habits of this beetle. The record which I have thought proper to make relates to veritable facts, but whether in the particular instance referred to they are to be regarded as extraordinary and not of common occurrence, may be a problem yet to be solved. I trust that in offering this paper I may not be thought presumptuous in differing with so distinguished Entomologists as Drs. Harris and Fitch, yet as my observations do not bear out the conclusions which they have reached, and apprehending that the best interests of the science are served by that record or enquiry which relates to the discovery of facts, I make no apology to these fathers in the science for transcribing in relation to this subject views somewhat dissimilar to theirs.

It was my good fortune, in May last, to find a brood of the larvæ of this species. As they were very different from the only description we have seen, i. e., that of Morris in his Synopsis, we herewith give a description of three of its stages. As all the stages were not observed we will begin with the last, as it will by that means be more short. Mature larvæ, 1.50 to 1.75 inches long, color black, thickly dotted with yellowish white. Head slightly triangular, smooth and shining. Head, top of segment next to it, feet and vent, rich reddish brown.

The Arthrogastra of North America have scarcely been studied except in two or three families, the principal part of the American literature consisting of scattered notes and descriptions. Two or three more pretentious papers have been published by Wood, Putnam and Hagen. A broad field for study is open for future investigators. In order to call attention to the group and secure such co-operation of collectors as may be possible, the following preliminary list of twenty genera and fifty-nine species has been prepared. A few forms are added from Lower California and Cuba which will probably be found within the limits of the United States. Additions and corrections to the list are solicited, as well as specimens from all parts of the country, for which a suitable return will be made.

EGG.—Conical, the base flat, the top truncated, rounded, and divided from centre outward into eight or nine rounded, nearly equal, smooth lobes; at the micropyle a deep depression; sides marked by about 15 vertical ribs, low, rounded; the spaces between the ribs a little excavated, and crossed horizontally by many fine striæ; color pale yellow-brown, or luteous. Duration of this stage about five days.

YOUNG LARVÆ.—At 12 hours from egg, length .04 inch; slender, the middle segments somewhat thickest; color green-orange, under side green-yellow, as are the feet and legs; segment 2 is whitish, with a black chitinous dorsal collar in front; head sub-globose, black-brown, shining. Duration of this stage three days.

10. Embia Mauritanica.

E. Mauritanica Lucas, Explor. Alger., vol. iii., p. 111-114; Neur. pl. 3, f. 2, a-n. Cuvier, Edit. Masson, Neur., pl. 106, f. 8 (copy of Lucas' figure).

E. Mauritanica Lucas, Ann. Ent. Soc. Fr., 1859, ser. iii.' vol. vii., p. 440-444.

I have never seen this species, and give the substance of the very detailed description of Mr. Lucas.

The name “Dagger Moths” is given to a group of white and gray Noctuidæ, or Owlet Moths, which, in the perfect state, possess a certain similarity in appearance, but are often quite dissimilar as caterpillars, not only among themselves, but as compared with the other Noctuidæ, with which Family they are classified. The name itself alludes to a black mark which many of the species show near the internal angle of the fore wings, which resembles a dagger, or the Greek letter Psi. The caterpillars are often ornamented with curious hairs or bristles; several are shaggy in appearance, so that they look like Arctiadœ or Dasychirœ. This peculiarity is shared, however, by other genera such as Platycerura and Charadra, which I classify with them as a subordinate Group of the Noctuidæ under the name of Bombycoidœ, or perhaps more properly, Apatelinœ.

I visited Fire Island, Rockaway Beach, Long Beach and Coney Island during the seasons of 1883 and 1884. Found myriads of Cicindela hirticollis and dorsalis, Say. The beaches were fairly alive with these beetles. The hirticollis were most abundant in the latter part of June and early part of July, and dorsalis at the end of July and beginning of August. These beetles may be found throughout the length of these beaches. They have a singular habit of collecting in great numbers at certain points, where in spaces of about fifty feet square they are as numerous as flies about a stable. This was frequently observed, and so far as the general character of the beach and the surroundings were concerned there was nothing to favor the particular locality. My activity and success in taking these interesting hexapods at the seaside excited on many occasions the curiosity of some equally interesting bipeds, who, barefooted and wading through the surf, doubtless ridiculed my energy and thought me mad.

Herewith is presented for publication a partial list of the Orthoptera collected by Dr. H. A. Hagen and Samuel Henshaw during the summer of 1882, along the line of the Northern Pacific Railway. The collection, although not an extensive one, contains some new forms, as well as several interesting varieties of well known species. The collection is also of much interest in extending the range of quite a number of species heretofore recorded as occurring only on the eastern slope of the continental divide, or at the extreme eastern edge of the great interior basin, to the western slope.

Taken as a whole, this collection of Orthoptera is very complete for the regions in which it was made, and shows careful work both in its formation and preservation. It is to be regretted, however, that so few specimens of some of the more interesting forms were taken, a feature which, no doubt, might have been remedied to some extent had their value been known at the proper time.

The St. Joseph River runs nearly diagonally through the township of Constantine, from N. E. to S. W. A small affluent, called Fawn River, empties into it at the point where the town itself is located.

The characteristic vegetation along the banks of the main river above town is beech, maple, elm, iron-wood, walnut, butternut, papaw, magnolia (or a tree very nearly allied), spice-bush, prickly-ash, sumach, witch-hazel, wild grape, ash, oak and hickory, with many quite rare and beautiful wild flowers, such as are found in rich and favorable places. But that of the affluent region is almost entirely oak and hickory (mostly oak), with hazel, sumach, a few poplars, willows, and in some places cedars, but with few wild flowers of any account. The cedars are also found upon the main river, both above and below town. This difference in vegetation is probably due to a difference in the nature of the soil, the lower and richer soil of parts of the main river producing a richer and more varied flora than the higher and poorer parts adjoining the affluent.

Several specimens of the larva of this insect were received on the 8th of July, 1884, from Mr. Acton Burrows, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Winnipeg, Manitoba. They were reported as seriously injuring vegetables and field crops in that Province.

Length, one and half to one and three quarter inches.

Head medium in size, yellowish brown, with a polished surface, dotted and streaked with dark brown.

Form nearly cylindrical, tapering a little towards the head.

The following species were collected, from 29th March to 21st June, 1884, along the thirtieth parallel in two neighborhoods, New Orleans and environs, and a district on Bayou la Fourche extending from a little above Napoleonville a few miles south along the bayou. The latter is in Assumption Parish, and at the time of my visit was partially overflowed from the great crevasse of March, 1884. Though many of the species here given are well known to occur in the South Louisiana fauna, I give them all just as I collected them, with the view of noting their relative abundance or rarity, dates of occurrence, localities, etc., all of which together may contribute to make our knowledge of the fauna more complete. But it must be remembered that this is merely a record of how the species occurred to me during my stay, in which I collected only a small part of what might have been taken, could I have given my entire attention thereto. Nearly all those of the N. O. neighborhood were taken between the city and Lake Pontchartrain.

Hololepta fossularis Say. The habitatio of this insect is usually under locust bark in the first stages of decay, a fact so well known that collectors would look for it in no other place. But last summer I found a number of them under the bark of Ulmus fulva (slippery elm), the odor of which in the same state of decomposition is as rank as that of Robinia. With them were several H. lucida. The individuals of these two species so approximate as in some examples to be scarcely separable; and indeed there is a reasonable doubt whether any of them are instinctively conscious of being specifically different.

Melitæa Harrish, Scud.

I described the stages of this species in Can. Ent., ix., 165, 1877. In fall of 1883, I received several larvæ from Mr. Chas. Fish, of Brunswick, Me., which were carried through the winter in ice house. They were brought into a warm room 29th April, 1884, and 1st May, began to feed, the plant being wild Aster. On 4th May, some were passing the fourth moult, and these reached fifth moult 10th May, The first larva suspended 17th, pupated 18th, and the imago appeared eight days thereafter, or on 26th May. All the larval stages, however, were irregular. One larva passed fifth moult 19th May, but did not pupate till 1st June. On 7th June, '84, I received from Mr. Fish about 20 larvæ in last two stages, and on 9th about 50 more. Some were in third stage from pupa, or between 2nd and 3rd moult. The species evidently hibernates after both 2nd and 3rd moult, as M. Phacton does. Mr. Fish wrote that all were taken on Dipoplappus, and says: “I found them sometimes 4 or 5 on a plant, always on the upper side of the leaf in the most conspicuous position. I have never found them making any attempt at concealment.” Prof. Fernald also says, But. Maine, that they make no web over their food-plant.

I have recently obtained this elegant Phalenid from its larva, which feeds on the wild red cherry (Prunus Pennsylvanica). July 8, several nearly mature caterpillars were discovered on the twigs of their foodplant. They were an inch in length; color dull red, closely simulating the bark of the branches; and to more effectually conceal themselves by mimicry, they hold on, when at rest, by their pro-legs only, the body standing out like a short branch, or they hold to a leaf by their fore legs, making their bodies appear like a petiole.