1896.] New Books on British Zoology. 291 



has disinterred a number of Hubner's names published without descrip- 

 tions, and substituted them for names familiar to entomologists for the 

 last half century. And the superseded names are not even given as 

 synonyms ; the student, for instance, will not find Cidaria or Eupithecia 

 in the index. 



The descriptions of the species are naturally very condensed, but most 

 of them give the salient points of the insect. The references to cater- 

 pillars and pupae are, as a rule, meagre. The range of each insect is 

 briefly indicated, but, so far as regards Irish localities, we can only 

 marvel exceedingly whence Mr. Meyrick derived his information. In 

 the preface he tells us that the records were tabulated for him by a lady 

 from " various entomological periodicals " and " reliable private corres- 

 pondents." A few instances will suffice. Hylophila bicolorana is said to be 

 found " B. and W. Ireland — not uncommon " ; according to the recent 

 list of Mr. Kane, who certainly knows the Irish moths better than any 

 other living naturalist, the species is unknown in Ireland. Halias prasi- 

 ««;/« is given as " N. and E. Ireland — common"; it ranges into the ex- 

 treme south-western county of Kerry. Gnophria ruhricoUis appears as 

 " N. and W. Ireland— common " ; it has not been found north of 

 counties Dublin and Galway, and, though widespread, is certainly not 

 common. Lithosia complana — " N. and E. Ireland — local "; ranges round 

 the coast from Derry to Cork. Mr. R. E. Dillon's Clonbrock records are 

 omitted, but Mr. Meyrick tells us in the preface that all omissions are 

 intentional, and imply disbelief. We cannot think that such misstate- 

 ments as we have instanced are also intentional, but errors in matters of 

 fact, so easily verifiable, tend to shake confidence in Mr. Meyrick's 

 opinions on other matters in which the difficulty in arriving at correct 

 conclusions is much greater. 



The only illustrations are good figures of the wing-neuration, more 

 rarely of other structural characters, in the various genera. It is satis- 

 factory that the attention of the student should be so largely directed to 

 the structure of moths, for collectors of the lepidoptera are too prone to 

 think only of comparing wing-patterns when identifying their insects. 

 In spite of its defects, Mr. Meyrick's work will be welcomed as a real 

 attempt to describe, in brief compass, the whole of our native lepidoptera 

 in the light of modern knowledge. 



G. H. C. 



