240 THE entomologist's record. 



retrospective action should not take place, but where any doubt arises, 

 the name should lapse unless fortified by a figure within the next, say 

 ten years. Without some such provisoes as these, and probably one 

 or two others, to pass the law simply, would perhaps rather add to 

 than clear away the confusion at present arising from the want of 

 figures. To give plates of types hitherto unfigured, as M. Oberthiir 

 proposes, is extremel}^ desirable, and should be done by all who possess 

 such types, or even know where they are. An excellent example of 

 this is Mr. Hamilton H. Druce's lllustiotionn of African Li/ccuniidae 

 from tijiK' s/)ecinii')is in the Beiiin Miiseinn. (Still earlier Eothschild's 

 and Jordan's Berision of the Lepidopteroits Faiiiili/ Sphvnuides. — H.J. T.) 

 In Section V., the introduction of the terms " Subspecies" and 

 "Morpha" is objected to, and we are entirely in agreement with 

 Messrs. Oberthur and Alpheraky that as synonyms, of which we 

 already suffer from a plethora, of " geographical race" (var.) and of 

 " form " (forma) respectively, their use is to be sincerely deprecated. 

 We may, however, say that we are almost pleased, as a proof that we 

 are not entirelj' dominated by his superior personality, to find ourselves 

 in disagreement with M. Oberthur as to one ground of objection to 

 the term " subspecies." He objects because the word implies a theory. 

 If a name be given to something not already supplied with one, we 

 accept it as the name of that thing, without caring, or at least attaching 

 serious value to the question, whether or no it suggests a theory, sound or 

 unsound. As examples take Ruralis hetidae or Laeosopis roborifi. Even 

 astronomers talk of sunrise and sunset, though the mere man in the 

 street knows that the theory they suggest is erroneous. 



Some Moorland Thrips. 



By EICHARD S. BAGNALL, F.L.S., F.E.S. 



(Field President of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham 



and Newcastle). 



The Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and 

 Newcastle-upon-Tyne held their week-end field meeting this year in 

 the upper Coquet-dale, with headquarters at Harbottle, a charming 

 village about ten miles from the nearest station, Rothbury. Thus an 

 excellent opportunity was given me to study the Thysanoptera of the 

 Northumberland moors. 



It was rather early for the heath and the heather, which was only 

 just breaking into blossom, but the somewhat isolated clumps were 

 crowded with thrips and their larv*, most conspicuous amongst them 

 being the white-barred Aeolothripa fasciatiis, L., though the two 

 smaller species, luithrip.s ericae, Hal., and O.ryt/iripn parvicepa, Uzel, 

 were more numerously represented. But best of all was the capture 

 of the minute and wingless Aniblythrips ericae, Bagnall, a genus and 

 species described early this year from five Yorkshire specimens. By 

 repeated search this insect was found to be of wide distribution, but 

 scarce, less than 30 specimens being ultimately secured. A. ericae is 

 only a little more than half a millimetre in length, and is rather 

 difficult to distinguish in the field from the larvtB of the larger forms. It 

 has, however, an air of distinction, and, unlike the sluggish larvae, 

 moves about with some alertness and without the hesitation so evident 

 in the former. In colour Ambb/t/rri/is is tinged with reddish-brown. 



