1904.] ;^41 



standard work, which has been revised and corrected by the author. It now con- 

 tains over 200 pages of matter, with 138 ilhistration.s. The author, who is a skilled 

 microseopist, has taken great pains to verify the important discoveries of others, 

 and has added to these a number of his own original observations. The work is 

 very concisely and clearly written, and has been adopted as the text-book on the 

 subject in colleges and for examination. It lias been translated into French, 

 German, and Russian. At 2/6 it is one of the cheapest scientific works published, 

 and it should find a place in the library of every entomologist, as well as that of 

 every bee-keeper. — F. W. L. Sladen. 



Birmingham Entomological Society: April ISth, 1904. — Mr. &. T. 

 Buthune-Bakeb, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. W. H. Flint exhibited a number of specimens of the genus Dianthoecia 

 and some of its allies ; amongst the more noteworthy species were D. compta, F., 

 from East Ireland, Z>. cmaia, Bkh., from Isle of Man, D. albimacula, Bkh., from 

 Folkestone, D. irregularis, Hufn., from Cambridge, Cal ffmnia pffralina, Yiew.,{rom 

 Kingswood, C. diffinis, Jj., from Marston Green, and a specimen of Valeria oleagina, 

 F., from an old collection. — Colbran J. Wainweight, Hon. See. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society: March 2lst, 190i. — 

 The second ordinary meeting of the session was held in the Royal Institution, 

 Liverpool, Mr. Robert Tait, junr., presiding over a large attendance of members. 



In his opening remarks the Chairman congratulated the Society on its steady 

 progress, and dwelt on the fact that although the published proceedings had been 

 considerably increased in the Report just issued, the credit balance in the hands of 

 the Treasurer was much greater than it had been for many years past. 



Mr. Wm. Mausbridge, F.E.S., Sefton Park, Liverpool, was elected a member of 

 the Society. Donations to the Library were announced by the Secretary from the 

 Rev.C. J. Buckmaster,M.A., and Messrs. Wm. Webster, M.R.S.A.I.,andFredk. Birch. 



The paper was contributed by Dr. J. Cotton, F.E.S., on " Notes of Captures, &c., 

 near Simonswood Moss." After describing the situation and limits of the moss, 

 which is roughly a mile long by three quarters of a mile broad, the lecturer entered 

 into details of the best methods and most suitable nights for sugaring. He prefers 

 to work with a sheet and acetyline lamp, manufacturing the gas on the spot by 

 means of a simple and portable apparatus. The extent of ground to be covered 

 makes a companion desirable for the possibility of meeting with poachers is not a 

 remote one. The only time when a friend seems de trap is when single rarities — 

 such as Acronycta alni or black A. leporina — turn up, and there comes the inevitable 

 division of the spoil! The paper was largely devoted to a description of some 20 

 of the most noteworthy forms which occur on the moss, including Notodonta 

 camelina, N. dictmoides, N. dromedarius, Hadena glauca, Tryphfena fimbria, &e., 

 with earliest and latest dates of capture. An enumeration of the Lepidoptera token 

 on this moss shows a total of 156 species, 12 of these being butterllies. A discussion 

 was afterwards carried on by Major Ross, C.B., Messrs. R. Tait, junr., R. Wilding, 

 F. N. Pierce, F. Birch, and E. J. B. Sopp, and it was generally accepted that all 

 the evidence forthcoming corroborated the theory that dampness is the predominent 



