REVIEW, THE RETROSPKCT. 237 



Blundell and Co., 44, Collins Street West, Melbourne, or to the Author, 

 at Warrnambool. 



f\mm. 



Inseda Britannica — Diptera. Vol. III. By Francis Walker, F. L. S. 

 London: Lovell Reeve, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. 1856. (Large 

 Octavo size.) 



If the fame of Mr. Walker as a first-rate entomologist was not already 

 firmly established, this work would secure it for him, replete, as it is, 

 with valuable information, guarded by scientific accuracy. It is a most 

 valuable production, the importance of which as a component part of the 

 l^atural History of the country cannot be over-rated. Every species is 

 described separately in Latin and English, and that most fully, completely, 

 and carefully. 



I cannot say that I quite understand the author's meaning in the Preface 

 as to the species described, but this is a minor fault, even if it be not 

 more to be attributed to my own dullness of comprehension than to the 

 author's obscurity of expression. The work itself cannot possibly be praised 

 too highly. It is everything that a scientific book ought to be. 



€\i lUtrnsjiBii. 



Having just perused the four last numbers of "The Naturalist," I meet 

 with an article in the one for April, at page 84, headed "Moth Hunting, 

 or an evening in a wood;" by Mr. Thomas Edward. This article is 

 certainly throughout somewhat amusing, but the captures named by its 

 author deserve especial notice. Mr. Edward asserts that he captured on 

 one and the same evening the following Moths, namely, the Oak Egger, 

 Unicorn Hawk Moth, Cream-spot Tiger, and Green Silver-lines. Now, 

 this must have been, as he observes, a most wonderful take, and I am 

 inclined to think that few, if any, who are but moderately acquainted with 

 the habits of these several speeius will be ready to believe the same, for 

 the following reasons: — The Oak Egger quits its chrysalis about the middle 

 of July, and the males fly during the afternoon, seldom if ever moving 

 about at dusk in the evening: the Cream-spot Tiger flies from nine or 

 ten in the morning, seemingly to enjoy the full warmth of the sun; this 

 species is in its perfect state from the middle of May to the middle or 

 latter end of June, seldom occurring later in the season. The Green 

 Silver-line flies in the evening, and the one known among collectors as 

 the scarce one, comes forth in July, the common one in May, but both 

 arc very short-lived insects, being soon over and gone. The Unicorn Hawk 



