138 THE entomologist's record. 



Haworth. (5) Mr. H. Champion concludes an article on the life- 

 history of the Snake-fly, Rajihidia. The Entomolu(/ist contains (1) 

 Description of a new flea, Step/ianocircus pectinipes from Victoria, with 

 a plate of details, by the Hon. N. C. Rothschild. (2) An account of the 

 Butterflies of the Bucks Chilterns, by Mr. H. Row^land-Brown. (3) A 

 continuation of the consideration of the Hybrids of Oporahia species, 

 with a plate of the genital armatures, by Mr. .J. W. H. Harrison. 



In the Canadian Ento))inlo(iist for March is an article, " The Sym- 

 metry of Insects," by H. B. Weiss. The statement is made that, "All 

 insects are bilaterally symmetrical, or, in other words, the two lateral 

 halves of an insect are alike, and symmetry can be defined as a pleasing 

 equality of parts. Bilateral symmetry is sometimes known as hori- 

 zontal dual symmetry, inasmuch as bilaterally symmetrical objects are 

 usually oriented from a middle point or portion and exploited by equal 

 movements of the eyes to the right and to the left, which is the natural 

 method. As a result the aesthetic value of dual symmetry is greater 

 in the horizontal than in the vertical." 



In the same number is a very important article from an economic 

 point of view, " Notes on the Pupation of the House-fly [Alusca dowet<- 

 tiia) and its mode of overwintering," by Prof. C. Gordon Hewitt. The 

 writer points out four methods of the latter habit in northern latitudes, 

 (1) Dormant in cool and suitable shelter ; (2) Periodical activity under 

 periodical stimulus of temperature, etc. ; (3) Permanently active in 

 warmed buildings, factories, restaurants, etc. ; (4.) In the immature 

 stages. His remarks on the pupation habits are equally useful to those 

 engaged in sanitation work. 



The monthly article in the Canadian Entomologist for March on 

 Popular and Ecomic Entomology deals with the "Importance of Obser- 

 vations on apparently unimportant insects," the author supporting his 

 assertion by numerous instances of detailed work in life-histories which, 

 made years ago, have only recently become of first importance. 



In the Scottish Naturalist for March is a record of the occurrence of 

 the Coleopteron, Cnjphalns ahietis, in Aberdeenshire, a very destructive 

 insect in many pine forests. Scotland has hitherto been immune from 

 attacks of this destructive pest, the only previous record being one by 

 our colleague Prof. Hudson Beare. 



The Ent. Mo. Ma;/, for March contains a supplement of 64 pages 

 and eight plates, comprising a " Synopsis of the British Siphonaptera," 

 by the Hon. N. C. Rothschild. In all 45 species are included. In the 

 same number the following two species of Coleoptera are recorded as 

 new to Britain. 1. Enthia fonnicetoraiii, taken by Mr. Bedwell in 

 decaying wood in the New Forest, recorded on the continent as occur- 

 ring with the ant, I'oDiiica ntfa. 2. r>ri(chiis pusillns var. seininarii(s, 

 taken in a greenhouse from a bag of French beans (seeds) from Essex. 

 It is a species well known in the southern countries of Europe. 



The Xattiralist for March contains a full account of Yorkshire 

 Entomology in 1914, from reports sent in by the various members of 

 the Entomological Section of the Union. Light and sugar were both 

 very unproductive, and imagines generally were scarce. " Melanism 

 has not been a pronounced feature of the year. Dry seasons seem to 

 arrest the progress of this phenomenon." 



The Annual Report of the J'nited States National Mtisenm, for the 

 year ending June, 1914, has been received. It says that, " The deposits 



