Many of the species of coleoptera have been described from single, or, at the most, two or three specimens; these often imperfect, immature, or with individual peculiarities. Owing to this, those who undertake to determine their insects by descriptions, even allowing a wide latitude of interpretation, are frequently in doubt and uncertainty. Where families and genera have passed through recent monographic review, the re-description of the species from better preserved or more abundant material usually obviates the difficulty, but enough still remain to give trouble.

Among these, the ones here introduced seem deserving of notice, as some further description is necessary for their identification without having recourse to friendly aid.

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.

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.

In a lot of Hymenoptera captured in Vancouver Island, and sent me by Mr. Brodie from Toronto, I found the following new species:—

Ichneumon Vancouveriensis, nov. sp.

♂—Length, .62 inch. Black; face with four dots white, one on each side near the clypeus and one under each antenna. These entirely black and sub-moniliform. One dot on the alar scales with a line before and another one under, the collar, and scutellum, white. Wings slightly infuscated; the areolet pentagonal, the nervures black. Metathorax with the angles projecting, sub-spinose, the ventral area transverse, its anterior angles rounded. Legs black, the four anterior tibiæ with a white line exteriorly, the posterior with a smaller one near the base. Abdomen elongate, with the peduncle slender and punctured, entirely black. Vancouver.

During the past winter an installation of about 100 arc-lamps was established at Akron, O. They haug as usual over the middle of the street. Early in the summer it was evident that they would afford a fine huntinggorund for the entomologist, and accordingly several members of the Natural History society of Akron resolved to turn the opportunity to account by making collections of the insects attracted by the light and compariirg and noting the results.