144 '^^^^ Irish Nahiralist. 



are too often inaccessible to tlie ordinary student. With our 

 present knowledge, questions such as these are clearly in- 

 soluble, and so having taken a sufficient number of this 

 engaging insect (and they seem rather plentiful under these 

 stones), let us note some of the other species which occur there. 



(TO be: CONCI.UDED.) 



REVIEWS 



An Account of British Flies (Diptera). By F. V. TheobaIvD, 

 M.A., F.E.vS. Vol. i. London : KlHot Stock, 1892. los. 



This is the first volume of a work which will be valuable to students of 

 this most difficult order of insects. It contains chapters on fossil Diptera, 

 the classification of the families of the order, and descriptions of the 

 British genera and species of the PuUcidce (Fleas), CecidoinyidcB (Gall- 

 Gnats), Mycdophilidci: (Fungus-Gnats), Bibionidce, Siiiiuliidiv, and CJiironoiiiidce 

 (Midges). There is often great difficulty in determining what species 

 really occur in Britain; Mr. Theobald has given to the commoner and cer- 

 tain species the longest descriptions. Tables of genera and their species 

 are given in some families but not in all ; the localities in which species 

 occur are rarely indicated. The larval and pupal stages of the flies are, 

 however, dealt with fully ; the book in this respect contrasts most favour- 

 ably with many entomological works, whose authors consider the perfect 

 insect alone worth consideration. Agriculturalists will be interested to 

 know that species which injure crops are described in special detail. 



In the earlier decades of the century, the great Irish naturalist, Haliday, 

 was a pioneer in the study of Diptera. We hope that some of our pre- 

 sent-day entomologists may be induced to work at this obscure but mosi 

 interesting order. 



Blue, White, and Blue. Edited by John CharIvES Benson. Vol. ix., 

 No I. Dublin, February, 1893. 6d. 



We have received the current number of the Rathmines School 

 Magazine, and note with pleasure the prominence given to natural 

 history subjects. 



There are some interesting "Bird Notes" by the head master. Rev. Dr 

 C. W. Benson, and we believe that the record of our latest visitor, the 

 vSerin Finch, appeared earlier here than in any other journal. In an 

 article on "Dublin in 1805," there is a reference to the introduction of the 

 FVog, and the writer evidently agrees with Mr. Kane rather than with 

 Dr. Scharff. We are a little surprised to read, in an article on the 

 Bailey Lighthouse, of the Su^arloaf and " its volcanic glories of a bygone 

 age." We thought it generally known that this mountain is not an 

 extinct volcano, and that its conical shape is due to the even weathering 

 of the quartzite of which it is composed. 



It is gratifying to know that a taste for observing natural objects is 

 being so well developed in Rathmines School, and we confidently look 

 for new recruits from its pupils to the ranks of Irish naturalists. 



