274 [November, 



host was taken in May, 1899, at Gralasliiels, and the ichneumon identified by Mr. 

 Claude Morley, at whose request I record it. — A. M. Montgomery, 32, The Grove, 

 Ealing, W. : October \5th, 1899. 



Rare Diptera in ]899«< Olanvilles Wootton. — Bravhystoma longicornis, Meig., 

 figured by Meigen, vol. iii, tab. 22, fig. 6. Walker, vol. i, p. 103, says of it, "very 

 rare, in Mr. Stephens' collection ;" yet it is relegated by Mr. Verrall in his list to a 

 place among the reputed British species. It must now be restored to its former 

 position, as I took a couple of specimens on July 3 let. Allocotocera (Leia) puU 

 chella, Curt. — of this pretty species I took a pair on July 1st and 4th ; it is figured 

 in Curt. Brit. Ent., and the capture of a female is recorded by Mr. C. Matthews in 

 Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xxv, p. 379. I have also taken Aciura rotundiveiitris on July 

 4th. Lissa dolium, SaJtella scutellaris, Asindul um Jlavum, Plesiastina annulata. — 

 C. W. Dale, Glanvilles Wootton : October 9th, 1899. 



New Zealand Moths and BtiTTERFLiES (Macro-Lepidoptera) : by G. V. 

 Hudson, F.E.S. ; 4to, with 13 plates. London : West, Newman, and Co. 1898. 



Considerable enterprise has been shown in the issue of this work, and it is 

 principally designed for the assistance of New Zealand Lepidopterists, of whom the 

 number is at present unfortunately very small. The author no doubt anticipates 

 that it will contribute in some degree towards a material increase of the class of 

 students for whom it is intended, and it is most earnestly to be desired that this 

 hope may be realized, and that the highly interesting Lepidopterous fauna of New 

 Zealand may be adequately made known before it is destroyed by changed conditions. 



Under the term of Macro-Lepidoptera (admitted by the author to be un- 

 scientific, but adopted for convenience) are included the Caradrinina, Kotodontina, 

 Papilionina, Psychina, and part of tlie Micropterycjina {Hepialidce). All the 

 discovered species of these groups (not numbered, but apparently about 238 in all) 

 are shortly described or diagnosed, and of almost all there are coloured figures in 

 the plates, frequently two or more figures to a species. These figures differ in value, 

 some being characteristic representations, whilst others are very rough ; but on the 

 whole, in conjunction with the text, they will probably enable any collector to 

 identify almost all his specimens with little trouble. Interesting particulars of the 

 life-history are given for a not inconsiderable number of species, and these, which 

 are mainly from the author's own observations, are perhaps the most valuable feature 

 of the work ; one plate is devoted to coloured figures of larvae. Records and 

 references appear to have been carefully noted. The introduction includes a general 

 sketch of structure and classification, and outlines of some biological phenomena 

 which are frequently exemplified in the Lepidoptera ; and there are two plates of 

 anatomical details. 



On the other hand there are no analytical tables of genera or species, which con- 

 tribute largely to scientific lucidity ; there is no attempt at grouping or classifying 

 the recorded facts, to assist generalizations ; and there is no discussion of the very 

 interesting geographical relations of the New Zealand insects with those of other 



