238 [October, 



I took it in July, 1905, has just been identified by Mr. Edward Saunders. It 

 occurred at Aberdovey. As I have not lieard of its occurrence quite so far soutli, 

 it may be of sufficient interest to record. — Id. : September, 1907. 



Ceratina. cyanea at RedhUl. — From a number of bramble stems collected last 

 winter on Kedhill Common, and which mostly produced Pemphredon lethifer, and 

 Ichneumons, a single specimen of Ceratina cyanea, 9 , emerged durini; the third 

 week in May. As it is, I believe, a new locality for tiie insect, it may be worth 

 recording. —G. E. FitiSBY, 47, Windmill Street, Gravesend : September Srd. 1907. 



lUuieiu. 



"Indian Insect Pests :" by H. Maxwell Lefrot, M.A., FZ.S., F.E.S., 

 Imperial Entomologist. Pp 318. Office of the Superintendent of Government 

 Printing. Calcutta. 1906. 



To quote from the introduction written by Mr. F. G. Sly, Officiating Inspector- 

 General of Agriculture in India, this book is a remarkable " testimony to the stre- 

 nuous efforts made during the past three years " hy the Imperial Entomologist, Mr. 

 Maxwell Lefroy. Designed to assist planters, students, and those interested in 

 agricultural matters in India, it represents for many of tlicse the first-fruits of ento- 

 mological research in their country, judiciously peptonized and served up in a 

 manner often suggestive and always lucid and accurate. 



Our own country is comparatively so little affected by insect pests that it affords 

 a very misleading standard by which to judge of the requirements of tropical lands, 

 but even the average Englishman would probably consider that a single entomologist 

 might have his work cut out to deal worthily with the pests of a country like India, 

 with an area of one and a half million square miles, a great part of which is under 

 cultivation. To those acquainted with the nature of the work the idea that such 

 an almost pathetically isolated individual could successfully cope with so huge a task 

 would probably appeal only in its humorous aspect, and it may come as a surpri.se 

 to them to hear that the Entomological staff of the Department of Agriculture, on 

 whom devolves the onerous duties connected with a thorough study of Indian insect 

 pests, does actually consist of but one Entomologist, with one Kuropean and a few 

 native assistants. 



We understand that another Entomologist will shortly be appointed, hut until 

 the Indian Government can see its way to establishing Entomological Stations in 

 each province, all working in collaboration with the staff at head-quarters, it is im- 

 possible that the country can I'cap the benefits which an adequate organization 

 would confer. In the introduction previously referred to, Mr. Sly expresses himself 

 as hopeful that such a scheme maybe carried out in the near future, and it is greatly 

 to be hoped that such a development so obviously needed may not be long delayed. 

 Neither India nor its insects are uniform, and an accurate knowledge of local con- 

 ditions in Madras cannot be obtained by studying those in Bengal or Bombay. The 

 necessity of this close study of local conditions is rightly emphasized by Mr. Lefroy, 

 and its importance in so diversified a country as India should need but little 

 demonstration. 



