February 12th (Lincoln's Birthday), of this year, was unusually warm and spring-like. The temperature rose as high as 52°, and the clear sky and little wind made it a joy to be out in the open, in the sunshine.

I went to Staten Island that day, with the intention of working up some Orthoptera with Mr. W. T. Davis, but the feel of spring in the air was irresistible, and as I was anxious to secure aquatic Hemiptera as early in the season as possible, we went by trolley to some woodland ponds near Richmond. The fields were very wet on the way, but hopping among the dry leaves were yound grasshoppers, emerged from their winter's sleep. Some Diptera also were hiding among them, and they were quite active when disturbed.