20 [January, 



occasionally so in considerable numbers ; but whilst P. halticus, Kr.,and P.spinifer, 

 Curt., are normal in character, all the P. nigriveniris as yet obtained by me differ 

 from tlie typical form, in that they have three or four black abdominal segments, 

 instead of the two and half only. The appearance of the beetle is much altered 

 thereby, and it was mixed in my collection with P. balticus until the publication 

 of Mr. Champion's article on the genus in this Magazine (1899, page 1). M. 

 A. Fauvel, to whom I sent exainples, writes as follows : — " Je ne connais pas 

 d'autres exemplaires que les votres du Phytosus nigriventris a 4 segments noirs ; 

 c'est unc var. interessante." 



I should also like to note that in the same district Phaleria cadaverina, Fabr., 

 appears to be developing a dark form. The locality has long had a reputation for 

 producing an abundance of a variety of this beetle of unusually large size, with a 

 black " saddle-back " marking ; but in May of tlic present year I obtained four 

 specimens with a more or less fuscous coloration diffused over the entire insect, 

 one of them, indeed, being almost black, with the margins of the elytra and thorax 

 pale. It will be interesting to sec if the dark form, common, I believe, to various 

 foreign species of the genus, can be met with again in the coming spring. ~.T. IT. 

 Keys, 0, Seymour Terrace, Lipson, Plymouth : November 17th, 1902. 



Dbitujtrn. 



Prof. Adolf o Targioni-Tozzelti, director of the department of invertebrate 

 Zoology in the Museum at Florence, died there on September 18th, 1902, we think 

 at an advanced age. He came of a long line of naturalists, an ancestor, who died 

 in 1783, having been director of the Botanic Gardens at Florence. As an entomo- 

 mologist lie did but little systeniatic work, but several papers on Orthoptera are 

 from his pen, and also much useful information on Aphides, Coccidce, &c. (and 

 Aeari). He took an active part in the Italian Phylloxera commission. Like many 

 other Italian naturalists his bent lay distinctly towards physiology and minute 

 anatomy. He was one of the founders (in 18G9), and first President, of the Society, 

 Entomologica Italiana, and many of his papers were published in its Bullettino 

 (among the first three Vic^e-Presidents we find the name of " Alessandro Enrico 

 Haliday," who, as is well known, resided in Italy all the latter part of his life). 

 This Society still exists, and although never very prominent, it has served to keep 

 alive an interest in entomology (especially of a local nature) in Ital}'. 



Seventeenth Report of tiik Injtteiofs and othee Insects of the 

 State of New York, 1901: by Dr. E. P. Felt, State Entomologist (being 

 Bulletin 53 [Entomology 14] of the New York State Museum. Albany, 1902.) 



For many years past we have had occasion to notice these New York Reports 

 almost annually, both during the late Dr. Lintner's time, and since ; and almost 

 invai'iably eulogistically. Dr. Lintner's assistant and successor proves himself to 

 have been an apt pupil, and keeps pace with the times, or even on occasion antici- 

 pates results. This is an admirable Report, beautifully printed, and with excellent 

 illustrations, many of them old friends, but sonic are perfectly original, and equal 



