248 THE entomologist's record. 



Ptenidium intermedium, Wank., from the Northumberland and 

 Durham district. — Finding a mole's nest in a field near Tatfield, in 

 March of this year, I examined it for insects, and found two specimens 

 of Pteniilintn interuiediitui, Wank., a species new to the local fauna, 

 unless the specimens recorded bj' Bold as irankoiried are referable to 

 this form. They were identified by Mr. Bagnall. A pair of Qi(eilins 

 talpantui, Deville [vexans, Joy), occurred at the same time, which, 

 although not j-et recorded from Northumberland or Durham, had been 

 previously taken by my friend, Mr. Bagnall, in numbers on the western 

 borders of Northumberland, and at Bradbury, in the County of 

 Durham. — William Hall, Tatfield Hall, Tatfield, Co. Durham. 

 July llt/i, 1911. 



SrURRENT NOTES 



A meeting of the Entoiuohniival Club was held on July 10th, at the 

 " Hand and Spear Hotel," Weybridge, under the Presidency of 

 Mr. G. T. Porritt, F.L.S., F.E.S. There was comparatively only a 

 small number of members and friends present, many of those invited 

 having already begun their holidays. However, a very pleasant 

 gathering took place, dinner was served at 7 o'clock, and subsequently 

 the delightful weather permitted an adjournment to the comfortable 

 grounds of the hotel, where the rest of the evening was spent 

 discussing entomological problems and experiences under the soothing- 

 influence of "the weed," etc. Among those present were Messrs. B. 

 Adkin, E. Adkin, J. Piatt Barrett, -J. E. Collin, A. H. Jones, J. Jilger, 

 W. J. Kaye, W. J. Lucas, A. J. Scollick, A. Sich, E. South, and 

 H. J. Turner. 



The Report on the Pronress and Condition of the United States 

 National Museum for the year ending June, 1910, has just been issvied. 

 In a short summary of the inception and history of the institution, 

 reference is made to the "large-minded design of Smithson," to whose 

 munificence the founding of the Museum in 1846 was due. It is 

 shown how, in its early stage, the Museum was maintained wholly 

 from the Smithsonian income, but in time the government shared the 

 expenses of maintenance, until during the past 80 years the whole of 

 the upkeep expenses have been borne by the state, leaving the income 

 arising from the Smithsonian and subsequent bequests to be applied 

 solely for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge among men"; 

 effectually carrying out the scope of the act of foundation passed by 

 Congress to obtain " all objects of art and of foreign and curious 

 research, and all objects of natural history, plants, and geological and 

 mineralogical specimens belonging to the United States." It is 

 expressly laid down that the " collections have not been held for the 

 study of the staff nor for the scientific advancement of those belonging 

 to the establishment. Most freely have they been put at the disposal 

 of investigators connected with other institutions." Even if it is 

 impossible for the investigator to go to the collections in Washington, 

 " such collections as he needs are sent to him, whether he resides in 

 this country (U.S.A.) or abroad." Thus the Museum and its practical 

 methods are a conspicuous factor in the advancement of knowledge 

 throughout the world. During the last few years new buildings have 

 been in progress of construction, and the subsequent transfer and 



