1809.J 73 



P. balticus, I took very few of them. Mr. Champion, however, has seen some of 

 the specimens and pronounces them to be undoubtedly P. nigriventris, Chevr. This, 

 taken with the other two localities where the species has been discovered — 

 Mablethorpe and the Chesil Bank— suggests that its range round our coast is 

 extensive, and no doubt it has often been passed over as P. balticus. All I took 

 were under seaweed, chips, &c., lying in the sand above high-water mark. — W. E. 

 Shaep, Ledsham, Cheshire : January, 1899. 



Notes and Observations on some Victorian Coccid^ : by James 

 LiDGETT. (Reprinted from "The Wombat "), Q-eelong, Australia. 1898. 15 pp. 

 8vo, 2 Plates. 



This brochure, which it is modestly stated " is not intended as anything more 

 than a compilation of disconnected notes on the habits, distribution and general 

 character of the species which it includes," is deserving of notice, not only for these 

 reasons, but for its pertinent and scientific character generally as well as for the very 

 good figures on the lithographic plates from the author's drawings, and the synoptical 

 list of Families and Genera, in which the system of the late W. M. Maskell is 

 adopted. The Notes include a new species of underground Dactylopius (D. similans, 

 Lidgett), Erioeoccus eucalypti, Maskell, E. Tepperi, Maskell, Brachyscelis munita, 

 Schrader, B. tirtialis, Tepper, S. strombylosa, Tepper, and two other species of Bra- 

 chyscelis unnamed, all of these and one or two others being figured. 



It is gratifying to see that the Coccids of Australia, a country in which they 

 particularly abound, are being studied by competent observers of them in their 

 living conditions, which must essentially conduce to obtaining a knowledge of the 

 many varied forms special to the country. 



The author intimates that he intends to continue a course of "Field Notes" 

 on Victorian Coccidce. — J. W. D. 



Birmingham Entomological Society : December l^th, 1898. — Mr. P. 

 W. Abbott, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. R. C. Bradley exhibited a box containing a lai-ge number of Tortrices and 

 various rare Lepidoptera, presented by Dr. P. B. Mason to the type collection of the 

 Society. Mr. A. H. Martineau, a specimen of Sphinx convolvuli taken at Solihull 

 recently. Mr. R. C. Bradley, Chrysotoxutn sylvarum and C. elegans, both taken in 

 the New Forest last Whitsuntide. Mr. A. H. Martineau, Tachytes pectinipes, <? , 

 from Cannock Chase, and ? from Nevin, N. Wales ; also Salius exaltatus, $ . 

 Nysson dimidiatus, ? , and Entomognathus brevis, ? , all from Nevin. Mr. P. W. 

 Abbott, a case containing a number of fine varieties of Lepidoptera, chiefly taken by 

 himself during 1898 ; amongst others were the following : — a specimen of Vanessa 



