Vol. X.xiii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 481 



have arrived at the conclusion that a half-tone from a photograph 

 gives the best result. The half-tones are not up to the standard of 

 American work by this method and are much inferior to those made 

 in Europe with similar copy. In spite of this, which may be remedied 

 in the future, the work is a contribution of the greatest value to 

 students and is a strong hint to others to do likewise in illustrating 

 what they study. 



Vol. i, No. 5, July loth, 1912. "Fifty New Species; Notes on the 

 Genus Alfheias." Many new species of moths, mostly from the west- 

 ern and southwestern United States, are described in this paper. A 

 study is made of the Pyralid genus Alphcias Ragonot. The charac- 

 ters of some of the genera are given with tables for their separation, 

 and some new genera and species are described. Some notes and corri- 

 genda are appended. Four plates with many figures follow the text. 



Vol. I, No. 6, "On the Generic Types of North American Diurnal 

 Lepidoptera," July 25. 1912. The authors in this paper have used the 

 "first species" principle and listed the genera accordingly "to see what 

 the result would be." They give tables showing the result of the 

 first species method, and alongside of each genus the result of Scud- 

 der's work by "elimination." Inasmuch as the Committee on Nomen- 

 clature of the International Zoological Congress has adopted a dif- 

 ferent plan of procedure, we are still in the dark as to which genus 

 to use. It looks like a case of "go as you please." Genera are liable 

 to give all but the strongest intellects brain-fever. However this 

 may be, we are indebted to the authors for their views on an inter- 

 esting though tiresome subject. H. S. 



THE MACROLEPIDOPTERA OF THE WORLD, By DR. ADALBERT SEITZ, PH. 

 D. This colossal work is published by Dr. Seitz with the help of an 

 able corps of assistants, experts or authorities in the various branches of 

 this immense subject. The study of the Macrolepidoptera has grown 

 apace and for a time the illustrated works were entirely inadequate to 

 cover the subject. Hundreds of new species were not figured and even 

 those persons who had access to large libraries found it difficult to 

 keep up-to-date. Of course, descriptions were available, but there are 

 few persons that like the drudgery of relying solely on descriptions. 



When we consider the fact that this work when completed will con- 

 tain 930 plates and 39,000 figures in color we can realize what an un- 

 dertaking it has been and how much it will contribute to our knowl- 

 edge of the butterflies and moths of the world. The illustrations as a 

 whole are excellent and the explanatory text as full as it could be, and 

 the work kept within reasonable bounds. Good figures are essential in 

 this study, as while they do not accomplish everything, they save an 

 immense amount of time and, if necessary, one can always refer to 



