This is, without doubt, the most beautiful of our leaf-eating beetles. It is nearly an inch in length (fig. 9), of a broad oval form, with the wing cases of a rich yellow color, with a pale metallic lustre, while the top of the head and thorax gleams like burnished gold of a briliant reddish cast. The nnder surface has a polished coppery hue, and is thickly covered with whitish wool ; this latter characteristic having suggested its specific name lanigera (wool-bearer).

It is our desire in the present article to call attention to two pretty well established laws of nomenclature, that with a few seconding words on our part, the laws may, “to those whom it may concern,” preach the importance and necessity of their being observed and obeyed.

As our acquaintance with the numerous forms of this group increases the arbitrary division of the individuals into species and the species into genera becomes a matter of increasing difficulty. At the same time this does not absolve us from a careful study of the organism in all its parts, and a correction of former groupings becomes as obligatory as the publication of the original observation.

At the Hartford (1874) meeting of the Association, Mr. Riley described the newly-hatched larva of some of our common Blister-beetles; but all attempts to trace their habits had proved futile, both in this and other countries, until 1877, when he discovered that they preyed on the eggs of locusts (Acrididæ).

EGG–Globular, smooth under a low power, but under a high one, seen to be reticulated in irregular hexagons, the ridges flat and broad, and having at the bottom of each depression a white point; color yellow-green. Duration of this stage in August 3 days, in October 6, in April 6. The egg is laid on grass, which is the larval food plant.

Chrysops cuclux.

♀. Length 6½—9 m. m. Face and cheeks black, shining, separated by yellow pollinose stripes. Frontal callus black, ocellar space blackish ferruginous, the yellow pollen between somewhat infuscated. Palpi blackish ferruginous. Antennæ : first two joints yellow, the second infuscated; third black, base fulvous.