76 [Miircli, 



Jlaviveutris, Zett. II can be easily recoj^iiised by its red abdomen and head I 

 swept a eouplc off a wyeli elm at Glaiivilles Wootton. I liave last year taken tbreo 

 other inlerestinn; sjiecies of Phytomyza — P. nigrlpennis, Fall., a blaek species with 

 unusually dark wings, in May ; P. nigricornis, Macq., figured by Curtis in his 

 " ObserTations on Insects affecting the Turnip Crops ;" and P. uotata, Meig., a 

 pretty yellow species mentioned in Walker's " Diptera Britannica." — C. W. Dale, 

 G-lanvilles Wootton : February 6th, 1901. 



List of Lepidoptera of Chpshire and North Wales. — Tlie Chester Society of 

 Natural Science are engaged in drawing up a List of Lepidoptera of Chesliire and 

 North Wales. Tlie work is undertaken by Mr. G. O. Day, Mr. R. Newstead, Dr. 

 Herbert Dobie, and Mr. J. Arkle. Mr. Day, as editor, will be glad to receive re- 

 cords for Chesliire, Flintshire, Denbighshii'e, Carnarvonshire, and Anglesea, and on 

 application will supply lists for marking. His address is— G. O. Day, Parr's Bank 

 House, Knutsford : January, 1901. 



The " Curtis'^ Collection of British Insects. — During a brief visit to Melbourne 

 in November last I was enabled, by the kindness of Prof. W. Baldwin Spencer, 

 F.R.S., the Director of the Victorian National Museum, to inspect the collection of 

 Britisli insects formed by the late John Curtis. Entomologists at home may be 

 interested to learn tliat in spite of the ago of this fine collection, in which there is 

 probably no single specimen less than fifty years old, and very many date from the 

 beginning of the nineteenth century, it is still in a marvellously good state of pre- 

 servation. It is true that in the course of years the Lepidoptera have inevitably 

 lost a little of their original freshness of ajjpearanee, but most of the other insects, 

 especially the Coleoptera, look almost as if newly caught, except for the antique 

 style of setting. All the drawers which I examined were quite free from dust, and 

 I could detect no trace of mites, mould, grease, or verdigris on any of the specimens. 

 The cabinets, too, testified to the original high quality of their material and work- 

 manship by the perfect smoothness and freedom with which each drawer fitted and 

 moved in its place. The climate of Melbourne is evidently highly favourable to the 

 preservation of insects, and although it m:iy be a matter for regret that this important 

 collection, with its numerous types, has for so many years been deported from our 

 shores, it cannot fail to be gratifying to find it so well cared for and so highly 

 appreciated in its Australian home. — J. J. Walker, H.M.S. "Ringarooma," Sydney, 

 N.S.W. : December Srd, 1900. 



f\cuiciu. 



British Flies, Vol. viii : by G. II. Veerall, P.E.S {Platypezida, Pipuncii- 

 lidcB and Syrphidre of Great Britain, with a synonymic catalogue of the European 

 species). Pp. 780, royal 8vo, with 45S figures in text (by J. E. Collin, F.E.S.), and 

 Portrait of Meigen. London : Gurney and Jackson, 1901 (all published). 



For some years past Dipterologists in the British Isles have been looking 

 forward to the publication of tlie volume now under review ; but it is feared that 

 many (like the writer) will lay il down with a feeling of disappointment: for 

 a first hurried glance through the pages gives one an idea of want of care in 



