H»03.] 129 



(assisterl by C. K. Fernald, Ph.D., the hxte Rev. Gkokgr D. ITttlst, and August 

 Busck). Forming Bulletin No. 52 of the United States National Museum. Pp. 

 723, 8vo. Washington, 1902. 



" This work is intended to take the place of Smith's List of tlie Lppido/'fern 

 of Boreal America (1891)"; so says the preface. By "North America," America 

 north of Mexico is understood. The arrangement is practically that of Mey rick's 

 Handbook, save tliat the Butterflies head the List. fi622 species (exclusive of 

 named varieties) are enumerated. A very small number of species are diagnosed as 

 new. The richness of the National Museum is evident by the small number of 

 species indicated as not represented therein. The amount of labour involved in the 

 preparation of a List such as this is colossal ; the bibliographical references are 

 full. It is very i)n)bable tlmt an attemjit to analyse the List as a whole, or in part 

 may be made in a future No. of tliis Magazine. Meanwhile we congratulate Dr. 

 Dyar and his assistants on the completion of the List, and N. American Lepido- 

 pterists generally on having such a guide at hand. 



Lancasittrr and Cttrsitire Entomolootcal Society: — The Second 

 Ordinary Meeting was held in the Royal Institution, Liverpool, llie President, 

 Mr. S. ,T. Cap])er, presiding over a large attendance of Members. 



The Minutes having been confirmed, the Secretary announced donations to the 

 Library from Dr J. Harold Bailey (Port Frin) and Mr. H. St. John K Donis- 

 thorpe, F.Z.S. (London). Mr. A. H. Lister, of Pontic, was unanimously elected 

 a Member of the Society ; after which, on the motion of Dr. Cotton (St. Helens), 

 seconded by Mr. J. R. le B. Tomlin (Chester), it was decided to hold a summer 

 gathering in Delamere Forest on June 13th. 



The paper of the evening was contributed by Dr. Edmund Capper of Leicester, 

 son of the veteran President, who dealt in a most interesting manner with "The 

 story of Acidalia conthjuaria" of which desirable Lepidopteron he has probably 

 captured more specimens in its natural habitat on and in the neighbourhood of Moel 

 Llys than any other entomologist. Dr. Capper's paper, which traced the first 

 occurrence of A. coniirinarhi to the late Mr. Richard Weaver in 1855 to its dis- 

 tribution at the present day, also dealt with many important facts in the life-history 

 of the species. The paper was discussed by Mr. S. J. Capper, Dr. J. Ellis, and 

 Messrs. Pierce and Tait, the latter of whom confirmed the lecturer's premise that 

 only one brood was produced during the year. A hearty vote of thanks having been 

 accorded Dr. Capper, the following exhibits were rnvkAe •. — Noctua jiammatra, 

 Xylina confnrmis, Leucania extranea, and other rare British Noctuidat, by Mr. F. 

 N. Pierce (Liverpool) ; long series of the light and dark forms of A.oonfiffiiana from 

 Penmaenmawr, by Mr. R. Tait, jun. (Manchester) ; Thanasimns fornilrarhix, new to 

 the local list, by Mr. Guy Dunlop (Mossley Hill); embryo nest of Vespa (jermn»!ca 

 from bee-hive, by Mr. F. Birch (Liverpool) ; a fine series of Odontopera hidentata, 

 varying from black to very pale brown, and including one semi-diaphanous specimen, 

 by Mr. B. H. Crabtree (Manchester), and a fine example of (Edipoda crerulescens, 

 of which two specimens have been taken at Southampton, by Mr. E. J. B. Sopp 

 (Birkdale), Hon. Secretary. 



