1878.] 211 



Argynnis Selene in Ireland. — The long anticipated observation of this insect 

 in Ireland has at length been made ; I have received an example from Mr. J. R. Holt, 

 of Trinity College, Dublin, which was taken near Edenderry, in the King's County, 

 last summer by Mr. E. P. Henn. A specimen was also taken near Templeogue, County 

 DubHn ; only solitary specimens were seen, and Mr. Henn, not being aware that the 

 insect was a novelty in the island, made no special search. Of the genus Argynnis 

 found in England, two species, Adippe and Euphrosyne, are still absentees from 

 Ireland, and if, as is probable, Ireland received a large portion of her Lepidopteroua 

 fauna via Scotland, we shall very likely look in vain for them, as Argynnis Adippe 

 does not occur, and Argynnis Euphrosyne is rare, in Scotland. — Edwin Biechall, 

 Douglas, Isle of Man : January 11th, 1878. 



An exhilition of insects. — On Thursday and yesterday an interesting exhibition 

 drew together a large number of people at the Chiirch Room, Q-eorge Street, Gros- 

 venor Square. This was the fifth annual exhibition of the "West London Entomo- 

 logical Society. There were many very excellent collections on the tables, of which 

 some cases of rare moths and butterflies are specially worthy of mention. In one 

 of these there was a hermaphrodite specimen of Anthocharis cardamines. It was 

 noticeable that the efforts of the exhibitors seemed all directed to but few orders of 

 the vast insect world. The Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), of course, pre- 

 domiTiated over everything else put together, but we could- not see any good purpose 

 served by many of the collections containing numerous specimens — sometimes even 

 scores — of the same species of insect. A very large proportion of the insects was 

 unnamed, a defect which efforts should be made to rectify in a future exhibition. 

 Next to the Lepidoptera came some good collections of Coleoptera (beetles), and almost 

 the only other order represented was that of the Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, &c.), to 

 which a few cases were devoted. There were some cases of well-preserved cater- 

 pillars, including that of the Lobster Moth {Stauropus fagi). In many of the 

 collections of Lepidoptera the absurd fashion was adopted of arranging the insects 

 in patterns regardless of their connection by species or family. Thus a beehive, an 

 anchor, stars and crosses were figured — certainly very artistically — but they were of 

 no value from a scientific point of view. In but very few instances was the life 

 history of any particular insect worked out by the exhibition of specimens in all the 

 stages of its growth. — The " Echo," December S^A, 1877. 



[We cordially endorse the foregoing remarks. It is surely time that such trivial 

 employment as making designs in the form of a " bee-hivo, an anchor, stars and 

 crosses," with insects should cease, or, at any rate, should not be deemed entomo- 

 logical work, nor be patronized by an Entomological Society. Such things only 

 excite the pity of scientific men and the ridicule of others, extending not only to the 

 makers, but also to entomology itself. We earnestly hope the officials of our useful 

 local Entomological Societies will discourage to the utmost exhibitions of this nature. 

 An ample field for the investigation of the natural history of insects, as well as the 

 examination of their structure, still remains to be occupied, and collectors would 

 do good service if they turned their attention in these directions. — Eds. J 



s 



The Butteeflies of Noeth America, by W. H. Edwards. 2nd scries ; 



part vi. New York : Ilurd and lloughton. London : Triibner and Co. 4to. 1877. 



A further instalment of this beautiful work. It contains 5 plates with descrip- 



