1!)4- [August, 



CilATS ABOTT THE MiCKOSCOPE : by Henky C. Suelley. Pp. 101, small 

 8vo. London : The Scientific Press, Limited. 1899. 



An extremely elementary work in large type widely spaced, and containing no 

 more information than could be obtained in a short magazine article. It is so 

 elementary that the author has not thought it worth his while to explain why 

 looking through an instrument causes an object to appear enlarged. The portion 

 devoted to entomological subjects is very small, and as for the figures in this portion 

 we are glad to be informed that the one on p. 81 represents the wing of a house-fly, 

 that on p. 82 gives a fair idea of the wings of a humble-bee placed topsy turvy, and 

 those on p. 83 are exceedingly coarse butterfly scales. 



Floea of Kent : by F. J. Hanbury, F.L.S., and E. S. Marshall, M.A., 

 F.L.S., with two Maps. Pp. 444, 8vo. London : F. J. Ilanbury, 37, Lombard 

 Street. 1899. 



It is not our usual practice to notice botanical works, but we make an exception 

 in this case, firstly, because Mr. Hanbury is known as an enthusiastic Lepidopterist, 

 and secondly, because the work is likely to be of service to Metropolitan entomolo- 

 gists as a guide where to find food-plants, and also where there may be a chance of 

 finding insects attached to special plants. The work has been 25 years in prepara- 

 tion, and naturally much has been changed during that time, and mostly for the 

 worse in the London district. Yet "civilization" sometimes retards extinction. 

 We know of one local Kentish plant that has been saved from extermination in a 

 locality that is now part of London, because it is so much trodden over that it 

 seldom flowers, and as the leaves resemble grass it is overlooked ! 



^bituarii. 



Anton Schmid died at Eegensburg on May 24th, having nearly completed his 

 90tli year. Headers of the " Entomologist's Annual " for 1856 will remember an 

 account (p. 131) of the meeting of Stainton and Schmid at Frankfort in June, 1855, 

 a meeting followed by a nearly life-long correspondence, and of much benefit to our 

 late colleague in his researches with the life-histories of the Tineina. In connection 

 with these his name became familiar in this country, and considering his long life 

 one naturally ai-rives at the conclusion that he published a long series of papers, 

 whereas, as a matter of fact, he left behind him next to nothing in his own name. 

 In 1863 he published (Berl. ent. Zeit., vii) notes on the life-histories of various 

 Lepidoptera (with description of a new species of Gelechia) ; in 1885 "Die Lepi- 

 dopteren Fauna der Regensburger Umgegand " ( Correspond -Blatt, Nat. Ver. 

 Regensb., xxxix), and in 1894 " Der Regensburger Raupen-Kalendar." He was one 

 of those patient, quiet investigators who accumulate stores of valuable knowledge, 

 and possibly dread the notoriety occasioned by giving it to the world at large. Had 

 it not been for Zeller, Herrich-Schufl^er and Stainton it is just possible we would 

 never have heard of Anton Schmid. 



Societies. 



Birmingham Entomological Society : June 19///, 1809. — I\lr. P. W. 

 Abbott, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. R. C. Bradley showed a series of Andrena Trimmeraiia and yomada alter- 



