216 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



in the Entonioloffisehe Zeitschrift of Frankfort. A hurried glance 

 through several of these chapters shows them to be very thorough, 

 with full references to all the authors concerned, both old as well as 

 modern. The variation existing in each species is dealt with from an 

 historical and synonymic point of view, as well as from consideration 

 of its differential characteristics. Such a compilation needs a great 

 deal of research, and if well done from all available sources should 

 prove of great value to future writers on the group. No doubt those 

 who contemplate the completion of the present volume of British 

 Lepidoptera will need to consult these notes. 



In Societas Entomolof/ica for April 22nd, we notice that P. Cameron, 

 F.E.S., has the commencement of a series of articles on " New Genera 

 and Species of Chalcididae." 



In the same magazine for June 3rd, the Hon. N. Chas. Rothschild 

 contributes an article suggestive of the much needed discovery of the 

 parts of the life-history of Lijcaena aiion, which as yet remain a 

 riddle. 



The receipt of the Annual Report of the Manchester Entomolo<iical 

 Society reminds us that one of the main objects of our small local 

 coteries of nature lovers, is the elementary education and initiation of 

 the young Avho are to be the future workers in the investigation of the 

 marvellous adaptations of life to surroundings. We see by the annual 

 statement that the Society has but 46 members, and that the average 

 attendance at the meetings has been nearly 20, speaks well for the 

 individual enthusiasm, in spite of the fact that no inconsiderable 

 proportion of them live outside Manchester itself. There are four 

 plates in this number, one of which is coloured, and a portrait of the 

 President, Mr. C. F. Johnson, F.E.S. Plate iv. showing some 30 

 specimens of Ai/rotis ashtvorthii, ranging from pale to very dark, gives 

 us an admirable idea as to the potentiality of the species to show 

 variation in its ground colour. The only paper printed in extenso is 

 that by Mr. J. H. Watson, entitled ISIotea on the Life- Histories of 

 Certain Species of the Saturniidae, with three plates, containing a record 

 of breeding and hybridisation experiments made during 1910 with the 

 species of the genera Calif/ula, Pldlosamia, L'oscinocera, Attacus, and 

 Heniileiica. Among the papers read, but not published, we notice one 

 by our old friend Mr. W. Mansbridge, F.E.S. , entitled MendeVs Theori/ 

 of Heredity, which was made doubly interesting by the fact that Mr. 

 Mansbridge gave full accounts of his own experiments in the breeding 

 of Aplecta nebidosa, Boaruiia repandata, and Acidalia viryidaria in 

 illustration of the principles of the theory. We do not like to carp, but 

 we do wish to see these smaller publications, if only for the sake of 

 those younger members, brought out in conformity with the customary 

 convention of italics for scientific names, and trivial names with small 

 letter initial. 



In the last number of the Bulletin de la Societe Entomoloijique de 

 Erance, we note that Dr. Malcolm Burr, F.E.S., communicated a Note 

 on the Distribution of F'orficula lesnei in Emiland. VVe are pleased to 

 find that an increasing number of British workers are getting into 

 touch with continental societies and workers. This is as it should be. 

 Let us hope that we shall get less duplication in entomological work, 

 with its consequent intricate synonymic difficulties. It should be an 

 axiom for all authors of papers with any attempt at original work to 



