23 S [March. 



frame of cardboard, about one-eighth of an inch wide, and the exact size of the 

 slide, and, having gummed under each insect a small disc of paper bearing its No. in 

 the Locality Register, I place the frame on the slide, and over all put the other slide, 

 and bind with a thin paper edging, and when dry, clean and apply a coating 

 or two of sealing wax varnish to render the slides dust and mite proof. In the 

 matter of arrangement I proceed as follows : — To facilitate reference, each slide has 

 a distinctive number, and the contents of each separate slide are numbered pro- 

 gressively. The drawer devoted to the Typhlocyhidce is racked, after the manner of 

 a microsoope-slide cabinet, and, just beneath the glass, a piece of cartridge-paper is 

 fitted, ruled and labelled like an ordinary cabinet drawer minus the specimens, and, 

 in tlie space where, under ordinai-y circumstances, the insects would be pinned, are 

 inserted numbers, the upper one referring to the number of the slide, and the lower 

 one to the number of the insect on that slide. Thus, in the space allotted to Typh- 

 locyha quercus are the figures f , f , which indicate that a specimen of that insect is to 

 be found, No. 4 on slide No. 6, and No. 2 on slide No. 5, and so on. It is obvious 

 from the foregoing that there is no necessity for separating species before putting 

 them on the slides. No doubt a microscopist could suggest many improvements, but 

 I find the plan described above answer every useful purpose, as the insects can be 

 held up to the light to see the neuration of the wings, &c., the under-side is visible 

 without any extra trouble, and the slides, wrapped in a piece of paper, may be carried 

 in the pocket for examination at any opportunity with very little risk of damage to 

 the insects. To anyone whose stock of available daylight, especially at this period 

 of the year, is as limited as my own, this last is no mean advantage. — James 

 Edwaeds, Lane's Buildings, St. Faith's Lane, Norwich : December \2th, 1876. 



[Although this method of mounting Typhlocyhidce has the disadvantage of 

 preventing the examination of tlie genitalia from the side, it serves admirably for 

 affording a view of the under-side of the body, and the neuration of the elytra and 

 wings, both of which in species that are green or coloui'less, and in others that are 

 generally similar to each other, such as rosce and alneti, are points of the first im- 

 portance. The method, suitable either for the microscope or lens, and applicable 

 also to the PsylUdce, will be a valuable adjunct to the cabinet, although, for the 

 reason above stated, it will not supersede the ordinary method of preservation. 



The Rev. T. A. Marshall recommended sticking the wings of Typhlocybidce 

 upon thin glass, by means of water, for temporary examination (E. M. M. iii, 198), 

 and by putting examples in this way on a microscope-slide, and fastening over them 

 a piece of thin glass, I have rendered them of permanent service. I think tliat by 

 a modification of the plan, specimens of entire insects may be prepared for placing 

 in the cabinet. A hole, of diameter somewhat greater than (he expanse of the insect, 

 should be punched in a piece of thick card (of which the size may easily be deter- 

 mined), under which a piece of thin glass, somewhat smaller than the card, should be 

 fastened with gummed paper at the sides ; in the receptacle tlius formed the insect, 

 previously set out, is to be fixed, and another piece of thin glass fastened over it ; 

 then, a pin being put through the card, it would be fit for the cabinet.- — J. W. D.] 



Monograph of the British Aphides. Vol. I. By George Bowdler 

 Btjckton, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.C.S. London : Ray Society, 1876. pp. 193, and 45 

 plates. 



The Aphides, on account of the wondei'ful peculiarities of their natural 



