OF WASHINGTON. 77 development and emerged thirty days earlier than those under moist conditions. Professor Quaintance said that the same thing. holds true for the peach borer (Sanninoidea exitiosa Say), the larvae from nearly dead trees transforming before those from trees which are living and more or less vigorous. He then described the method of birth and the prolificacy of the black peach aphis (Aphis persicce-niger Er. Sm.) no males or eggs of which, as is also the case with the cabbage aphis (Aphis brassicce L.) and the cotton or melon aphis (Aphis gossypii Glov.), have ever been found. Mr. Titus stated that some specimens of the melon aphis had been known to repro duce agamically for two years. During all this time they were under observation and it was known that no eggs were laid. Mr. Banks made some remarks on the classification of the Perlidae and on the characters which he had found to be most valuable in the separation of the various groups. Doctor Hop kins asked him whether there were good sexual characters in the Perlidae, and Mr. Banks replied that there are characters in the anal plate. Doctor Ashmead said that there are charac ters in the anal veins of saw-flies, but that these disappear in the higher Hymenoptera. Mr. Knab made some remarks on the habits of South American passalid beetles. Among other things he stated that they seem to be monogamous. The larvae are cared for by the adults, and this care is evidently necessary to the larvae. Doctor Ashmead reported the taking of a ponerid ant, Leptogenys falcigera Rog., in the Philippines. It had pre viously been recorded from Ceyloii and Madagascar. Mr. Banks presented the following paper: A REVISION OF THE NEARCTIC CONIOPTERYGID^E. By NATHAN BANKS. (PLATES VI, VII.) The Coniopterygidae are a small and peculiar family of the true Neuroptera. One of the most characteristic marks of the family is the mealy exudation upon the wings and some parts of the body. More vital structures, however, distinguish the group from its allies. The antennae are short, moniliform,
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