An interesting part of this paper will be found to deal with some material from Alaska. During the summer of 1896 Prof. L. L. Dyche, of the University of Kansas, the well-known taxidermist, made an expedition to Cook's Inlet, Alaska, and from there inland. A number of species of Syrphidæ were taken simply as a side issue, the expedition not being an entomological one at all. Unfortunately, during the long journey back many of these specimens were damaged beyond all hope of recognition. The material that came through, however, without damage, although consisting of only thirteen species, makes quite a contribution to the knowledge of the Dipterous fauna of that interesting region. Although some of the orders of insects, notably the Coleoptera, have been quite assiduously collected in Alaska, and extensive reports written upon them, in the Syrphidæ, as is the case in all of the families of Diptera, no collections of importance have been made.

In December, 1896, Mr. Adolph Hempel sent me from Orange Co., Fla., some full-grown dragonfly nymphs which were apparently not to be referred to any of our known genera. At my request he undertook to breed some of them, and soon had imagoes of the species named above. In the letter which accompanied his bred specimens he recorded some careful observations, which are so interesting and valuable I deem them worthy of permanent record. The following account of the habits of this species is from Mr. Hempel's letter:

This species frequents small ponds and the borders of adjacent woods. Imagoes fly, when undisturbed, quite leisurely. They will hover over one spot, then dart a few feet aside and hover again and again. The males are often found in low places about ponds, resting on the ground with wings aslant downward and forward. Sometimes they rest on reeds or snags in the water; sometimes out in the pine woods several hundred yards from water; they may be found resting on the sand warmed by the sun, on logs or on trees.

Ordinarily the tribe Camponotidæ can be separated from the other tribes of ants by its habit of having cocoon pupæ in which their young go through their transformation period; whereas those of the (so-called) aculeate genera remain naked and do not spin a cocoon, it will appear, however, if diligent search be made, that several species of this tribe (Camponotidæ) do have naked pupæ, mixed with their cocooned ones, Latreille seems to have been the first to discover that Formica fusca, L., had naked and cocoon pupæ. He could not, however, understand why this should be, and indeed it remains one of the dark mysteries of the present day. So far as I am aware no other species of ants have been listed, other than Formica fusca, L., having this habit. During my researches in the study of the ants of Massachusetts, I have found that other species have acquired the same habit. And to satisfy myself that no mistake was made on my part in the determination of the larva, cocoon or imago, I sent samples of them to my friend and coworker, Mr. Ernest Andra, of France, for his opinion, and at the same time enquired of him if any of the ants of Europe had been discovered with naked and cocooned pupæ, other than F. fusca.

Easily recognized by the very short elytra which are divaricate and separately rounded at apex, about equalling the prothorax in length. M. bimaculatus, Say (fig. 23), is somewhat variable in colour, but is ordinarily black except a large testaceous blotch on each elytron. The thorax is rather broad, roughly punctured, the sides irregularly rounded, Length, .20–.32 in. Usually found on flowers, but has been bred from hickory, maple, ash, and dogwood.

I have received beautifully fresh specimens of Argynnis atossa taken in the mountains near Tehachapi, Southern California, July 7th, 1895. The inner half of the superiors below is bright red, almost a blood red. The species was described by Mr. Edwards from a specimen taken by Mr. H. K. Burrison. It is quite distinct and ranks with diana, idalia and nokomis as one of our handsomest Argynnids.

Spangbergiella vulnerata, Uhler.—There are two specimens of this species in the National Museum collection from New York, and another in Fitch collection from Arkansas.

Spangbergiella Lynchii, Berg.—Signoret quotes the description of this species in his Essai sur les Jassides and says: “This species might well be the S. vulneratus.” Berg takes this suggestion as the final disposition of the species, and reduces Lynchii to a synonym of vulnerata. I have a specimen of what is undoubtedly this species, from the Herbert H. Smith collection taken at Corumba. While it is very near vulnerata. still I think it should retain its place as a good species.