238 [October. 



successful ; in lieu of Rhaphidia there came a copious supply of the Siricid 

 Xiphidria droniedariux. But explanations produced many specimens of Rhaphidia 

 subsequently, amongst which was a supply of Rh. nigricoUis, Albarda, then an un- 

 described species, and as yet, so far as I am aware, known otherwise only by a 

 single specimen. And now as to the application of this hint. I am of opinion that 

 it would well repay any entomologist in this country living in a suitable district 

 (say the vicinity of the New Forest), and having a suitable structure, to follow the 

 example of the German Coleopterist. It is very possible that by this means many 

 insects only acquired by dint of much trouble and hard work, and often of apparent 

 great rarity, might easily be obtained, and at home. — R. McLaculan, Lewisham : 

 July 2-Hh, 1897. 



The Rev. Andrezv Matthews, 3/..4., the well-known specialist in Trichopterygidce 

 and other Micro-Coleoptera, died at Gumlcy, Leicestershire, on September l-4th, in 

 his 83rd year. He had been rector of the parish for 44 years. A further notice 

 will appear nest month. 



FUETHER COCCXD NOTES ; WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NeW SpECIES, AND DIS- 

 CUSSION OF Points of Interest; by W. M. Maskell, Registrar of the University 

 of New Zealand, Corr. Mem. Eoy. Soc. of South Australia. Trans. New Zealand 

 Institute, 1896. pp. 293—331, 5 plates. 



Mr. Maskell has once more given a retrospect of the discoveries of new species 

 of CoccidcE, chiefly Australian, but some also from China, Japan and India, with 

 observations on some species already more or less perfectly known, and we are glad 

 that this work has again fallen into his capable hands. The absolute novelties are 

 less in number than in some former years, yet some of them are very remarkable in 

 structure and size. In the latter respect the extremes are very noticeable, one 

 species, Parlatoria perpusilla, from West Australia, being only -joth inch diameter, 

 the smallest Coccid known ; another, Lecanium mirijlcum, from Australia, on Acacia 

 pendula, half an inch long, one-third of an inch wide, and quarter of an inch high, 

 being the largest. 



The figures on the plates are from the author's own drawings. 



There are some very pungent remarks on the work of incompetent writers, and 

 an example is given of the published views of merely literary men on Natural 

 History subjects, which are here designated " inconceivable rubbish," and would be 

 quite laughable if they were not of serious import, being addressed by an influential 

 paper to readers unable to discriminate. It may be doubted if caustic criiicism, 

 however deserved, is beneficial to the objects of it, ■who will rather be confirmed in 

 the belief of their own superiority. — J. W. D. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society : 

 July 22nd, 1897.— Mr. A. W. Dennis in the Chair. 



Mr. Ashdown exhibited a living specimen of the rare and local Longicorn, 



