102 [April, 



points in larval structure now considered of so much importance, had not been 

 tiiought of. A monumental work has come to an end, and it will be useful lor all 

 time. 



Vol. ix far exceeds in bulk any of its predecessors ; in some i-espects it is perhaps 

 of more scientific value than any of them. The number of plates is perhaps not 

 greater, but it so happens it was found that the available text was much in excess 

 of that for any foruier vol. The number of species described and figured for the 

 Pyralex, Cramhitei and Plerophori is great, and in many cases the text, especially 

 that for the water-moths, is full and fascinating, owing to its marvellous detail and 

 accuracy, and here, almost for the first time, a comparison is drawn with the writings 

 of the author's great prototype, Reaumur. The extension of the text is also jjartly 

 due to ]\Ir. Pjrritt having judiciously, during his editorship, introduced descriptions 

 by other authors when none were extant by Messrs. Buckler and Hellins, or used 

 them as supplementary when sucli were extant. This vol. is certainly a marvellous 

 guinea's worth. Mr. Bignell, as usual, lias furnished a list of parasites. 



And now a ^g'k statistics as to the work as a whole, taken from the General 

 Index included in this vol. We take it that of not far short of 900 species are the 

 larvae figured, the number of figures for each species varying from one to a dozen, 

 and often with the method of work on the food-plant. For a good number of 

 species there ai'e figures but no descriptions, and fdr a few, descriptions but no 

 figures. The nomenclature employed is not always thiit in (oree at the present day, 

 but this can deceive no one, and can only offend those who think names of more 

 importance than the insects that bear them. 



The Ray Society is to be congratulated on its efforts to finish the work having 

 been so ably seconded. There is a melancholy side to this happy consummation. 

 Would that Mr. Stainton had lived to see the end of an undertaking that owed 

 its existence to his initial suggestion ! — E. McL. 



Societies. 



Birmingham Entomological Society: Z'eeewie/- 19^A, 1900.— Mr. G. T. 

 Bethune-Baker, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. A. D. Dunn, Oxford Road, Moselcy, and Mr. W. H. Flint, Farm Road, 

 Linthurst, Sparkbrook, were elected Members. 



Mr. R. C. Bradley exhibited Sirex juveiictis taken at Bournemouth in August 

 last, and S. c/i/jaf: taken at West Runton, Norfolk, also in August. Mr. C. J. Wain- 

 wright, a number of Aculeate llymenoptera, taken at West Hunton, Norfolk, in July 

 and August last, including Nyxaa dimidiatus, Astala hoops, Tachytes pectinipes, 

 Mellinus sahtilosux, Tiph/'a minuta, Andrena Cetii, A.himacuhita, Numada oblusi- 

 fronx, and many others ; also three $ $ of Odt/nerus firacilis from Ran Dan \^oods, 

 a species which had not previously occurred near Birmingham. Mr. F. A. Jackson, 

 a number of Culeajdera, including ChlcBnius veslitii.i, taken at Bewdley on October 

 19th last. Mr. (1. T. Bethune-Baker, a number of Palaearetic Ephiephile and 

 I'ararge. 



January '2\st, 1901. — The President in the Cliair. 



Drs. T n. Wilkins, of Small Heath Disjiensary, and W. Wright, of Mason's 

 University College, were elected Members. 



Mr. R. C. Bradley showed a number of Diplera : a series of Pelevocera tri- 



