KEVIEWS. ^ 55 



J. E. Collin, who is ably carrying on the work in the order Diptera 

 which the late Mr. G. H. Verrall began, W. J. la-ucas and G. T. Porritt, 

 who are steadily investigating the life histories hitherto unknown of 

 the British species of Neuroptera, R. S. Bagnall, who is entnusiastically 

 studying the Thrips, A Sich, who is particularly working to record the 

 oval peculiarities and the early instars of the larvae of our British 

 micro-lepidoptera, etc., etc. One is tempted to go on, but space and 

 time forbid. It must be remembered that each one of these workers 

 represents many whose opportunities are probably less but Avho do 

 what they can to help, if it be only to verify results. It must be 

 remembered that most entomologists are busy men and that their 

 studies must of necessity often be intermittent. Does any cause 

 flourish wMthout a band of active sympathisers ? There must be many 

 who get little further than " a thing of beauty is a joy for ever." 

 These all fill their niche, and without such where would all that 

 glorious store, unparalleled in the world, which the thousands of 

 drawers of our Natural History Museum contain, be available for the 

 benefit of all who wish. 



With reference to the lament printed elsewhere we note that 

 the majority of the readers of entomological magazines is not com- 

 posed of entomologists whose life work is entomology, but of men 

 and women who have taken to entomology as a recreation. Most of 

 these have neither the time nor the opportunity to make detailed and 

 patient entomological studies, and without detail and patient work 

 studies are valueless. On the other hand, most of these entomologists 

 meet with certain facts or make certain observations which, though 

 perhaps they are unable to work out in detail, are of sufficient interest 

 to be worth recording for the benefit of others. "When busy men take 

 a holiday, at home or abroad and collect insects, they thoroughly 

 enjoy the scenery and the sport of collecting, and they naturally like 

 to have some permanent record of their doings, though they may not 

 have made any discovery. The other readers also like to hear in 

 detail what their friends have been doing. Many a pleasant written 

 account of a jaunt has led others to traverse the same route with 

 pleasure and profit. Then again we must not forget the band of 

 young entomologists, the record of whose first observations are often 

 not of great value, but what encouragement is given to them by seeing 

 their observations in print. The fact of it is, we cannot live solely on 

 beef, even with our meals, we enjoy the truly necessary sweets and 

 fruit as well as the above mentioned solid nutriment. — A.S. 



Ji^EYIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



The Transactions of the City of London Entomological and 

 Natural History Society for 1911. Price two shillings. London 

 Institution, Finsbury Circus, E.C.- — This annual publication, although 

 dated April, 1912, has only recently come to hand, and it is the last which 

 will be issued from the above address, as we hear that the Society have 

 removed to Salisbury House, Finsbury Circus, owing to the demolition 

 of the London Institution which for so long a term of years has fostered 

 the study of many branches of knowledge, especially science, within 

 its walla. We find that the Society still numbers about 70 members. 

 The contents of the Report consist of a record of the exhibits made at 



