In order to enable future volumes of the Canadian Entomologist to date their commencement from a less awkward time than the middle of a year, as well as for other reasons that it is needless to specify, we have resolved upon spreading the publication of the current volume over the remainder of this year and the whole of the followirg one ; we shall thus issue a number about every six weeks instead of monthly, and begin volume three in January, 1871. The following will be the dates of issue of the remaining numbers of this volume, so far as they can be decided upon beforehand : No. 3, on November 15, 1869; No. 4, on January 1, 1870; No. 5, February 15 ; No. 6, April 1; No. 7, May 16 ; No. 8, July 1 ; No. 9, August 15; No. 10, October 1; No. 11, November 1; No. 12, December 1. In accordance with this arrangement, we have delayed the issue of the present number, as will have been observed, from September 15 to October 1. Contributions for publication should be in the hands of the Editor about ten days before the date of issue of a number, in order to secure insertion in it.

In Vol. i.,No. 3, page 20, of the Canadian Entomologist, I published a description of a larva found infesting the seed of the grape, and in the Canada Farmer for October 15, 1868, page 316, a fuller description of its habits and destructive powers, and ventured the opinion that it would probably produce, when mature, a small curculio. In this I was in error, for the perfect insect proves to be Hymenopterous, a small four-winged fly belonging to Isosoma, and as it is believed to be undescribed, I propose for it the name of vitis (Isosoma vitis, n. sp.). The following notes on its history were made subsequent to the date of the issue referred to.

On the 6th of June, 1868, we observed for the first time a handsome green caterpillar eating some lettuce that we rvere growing in our graper-v ; thinking that it could not very well escape, we merely took a rough description, as follows :–Sixteen-footed caterpillar, about an inch long, pale green (almost the colour of lettuce leaves) above, deeper green below; a white dorsal line, two lateral white lines, the lower passing through the spiracles ; all five lines proceeding from head to tail. Before we secured it, it did, however, escape, probably entering the ground.

The following year, in June and early in July, we observed many similar larvæ on a number of different plants, both in the garden and in the woods.

In my previous article upon this subject, I treated upon the classification and the particular distinguishing characters of the genus Harpalus ; in this I wish to call attention to their specific differences, by noting those variations of form or structure which are so constant as to cause us to consider them as denoting distinct species. The general form of the beetles of this genus is oblong-oval, rather broad, thorax quadrate, and in length from .30-1 inch, black piceous, shining. Our northern exceptions to this colour are H. viridiræeneus, Beauv., and H. erraticus, Say, the former being bright brassy-green, the latter dark ferruginous or the colour of immaturity.

[Kirby divides the genus calosoma into two sub genera: Calosoma proper having the maxillary palpi with the last joint of the length of the last but one, and the elytra gilded; Chrysostigma having the maxillary palpi with the last joint shorter than the last but one, and the elytra obscure with gilded puuctiform impressions. The two species that he describes both belong to the latter sub-genus. Dr. Le Conte (Pro. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil.,, Feb. 1862, p.52) has given a more complete classification of the species of this genus into six groups, based upcin the differences of the anterior tarsi of the males. Kirby's division has not been adopted by subsequent authors.]

Last year our bed of garden parsnips turned out so badly in consequence of the protracted drought of the season that most of them were not worth digging; thinking, however, that we might as well get some seed from them asthey were a good variety, we left them where they were for the winter. When spring came they looked beautifully fresh and green, and soon grew most luxuriantly, sending up tall stems and producing huge umbels of flowers. There was a grand prospect of a fine crop of seed, and we began to promise supplies of it to some of our neighbors, who complained that their's was not satisfactory,—all, indeed, looked fair and promising till the last week in June, when “a change came O'er the spirit of our dream !” The fine umbels of flowers began to look rather unhappy.

31. Agonum Affine, Kirby.—Length of body 4 lines. Locality not stated. A single specimen taken.

Body very black, glossy. Antennæ longer than the prothorax: prothorax of the same width before as behind, so as to appear more square than in the preceding species; its lateral margin at the base is likewise not reflexed, the dorsal channel is slight, and the disk is minutely and transversely wrinkled ; the basilar impressions are deep, large and circular; elytra very slightly bronzed ; three punctiform impressions, the anterior one adjoining the third furrow, and the two posterior the second, are visible in the usual situation; the four anterior trochanters are of a deep red.

A single full-grown specimen of the larva of this species was found under a log in a wood near London on the 11th of June. Length one inch. Head black and shining.

Body above brownish black, closely covered with tufts of moderately long stiff hairs, proceeding from elevated shining tubercles. Hairs and tubercles a little darker than the surface of body, excepting along the sides, where, although the tubercles continue the same, the hairs are changed to a yellowish-brown color.

Under surface brown, with a slight greenish tint; fifth, sixth, eleventh, and twelfth segments are each belted with a series of tufts of short yellowish-brown hairs, in continuation of those above. Feet black and shining. Prolegs yellowish-brown and hairy.

On the 24th of April, 1868, I found under a log, near the Port Stanley Railroad track, a short distance from London, a young larva of an Arctian, which I supposed to be Parthenice, but since it differed slightly in appearance from the young of this species which I had reared before, I resolved to trace its history. In common with other allied species, this had evidently hybernated the winter through in the larva state, and had just awoke from its torpor.

The results of my experiments with P. Ajax, as noticed in Nos. 8 and 9 of the Canadian Entomologist (Vol. ii. pp. 115 and 133), are as follows :

From six larvæ obtained from eggs of Ajax:, deposited in capitivity, 16th May, 1870, I obtained two males, four females, Marcellus, between 20th and 24th June.

From twenty-four larvæ from eggs of Ajax deposited 2nd June, I obtained twelve males, ten females, all Marcellus, between 3rd and 9th July, and one chrysalis went over the winter.

From five larvæ from eggs of Marcellus, deposited 7th June, I obtained four female Marcellus between 4th and 9th July, and one chrysalis went over the winter.

This List is compiled on the same principle as the oxford and cambridge Accentuated List of British Lepidopiera, of which valuable little book we have made free use. A quotalion from its preface well explains our object:

“The want of uniformity in the pronunciation of scientific names, and the consequent difficulty of communication between the less educated, but often more practical men of science, is an admitted evil. To afford a remedy so far as Lepidopterology is concerned, and for the especial use and benefit of those to whom circumstances have denied the advantage of a classical education, while their inborn love of Natural History has led them to the study of this order of insects,” we have published this accentuated list of Canadian Lepidoptera.

On the 8th of January last, while searching for hybernating Coleoptera in the woods near Ottawa, I had occasion to strip the bark of a decayed ash tree, under which, among other insect store, I found a small transparent and curiously-formed cocoon containing a larva of a fly which was at that time unknown to me. The cocoon was imbedded in the bark, occupying what I am now led to believe the excavation made by a grub of Cerambyx, or some other coleopterous bark-borer. when cocoons belonging to the genera Evaniidæ or Icheneumonidæ are found under bark of trees, or stones imbedded in the earth, we may safely assume that they are accompanied by parasites, and that the original possessor has been devoured because it was just the food that suited them.

Not a single American species of Hemiteles, so far as I am aware, has as yet been decribed under that generic name as occurrittg north of the West India Islands. Two of Say's Cryptus, indeed, namely, Cr. orbus, found in Indiana, and Cr. tenellus, found in Pennsylvania, manifestly belong to this genus ; and the latter may not improbably be identical with our insect, though his description is insufficient to identify it, and scarcely separates it from Hæmiteles thoracicus, Cresson, an inhabitant of Cuba. In my own cabinet, besides the species that we now have to do with, I have no less than nine undescribed species of this genus that were captured or bred in Illinois, The genus may be conveniently divided into two principal groups, according to the presence or absence of metathoracic thorns ; and of my undescribed species but two belong to the latter category.

The accompanying figures shows the curculio in all its stages. a, is the larva, b, the chrysalis, c, the perfect beetle, all magnified, the adjoining lines shows the natural size, d, is a small plum with the curculio (natural size) working on it. One egg is deposited under the crescent cut, and a second incision is being made. I shall now refer to some experiments of my own on this insect which will, I hope, add something to our knowledge of the creature's habits.