286 THE entomologist's record. 



late G. H. Verrall (edited by J. E. Collin), "Descriptions of new species 

 of the Syrphid genus (V//Z/V( m (Diptera) ; " etc. There are thirteen 

 plates. 



In the Knt. Mo. Ma;/, for October, Mr. R. S. Bagnall, F.L.S., 

 describes two species of IlaplotJiri/is as new to the British Fauna, viz., 

 U. juncorum and H. (Iistin(/in'ndiis, both from near Oxford. 



The Annual Volume of the South-Eastern Union of Scientific 

 Societies, The South-Easteni Naturalist, contains a record of the 

 Society's activities during the year, an account of the Congress, which 

 was held this year in the metropolitan area, viz., at Hampstead, and the 

 papers read at the Congress. None of these last could be strictly 

 included in the term " Natural History " unless it be the capital paper 

 giving an account of the " Geology of Hampstead " by Mr. F. VV. 

 Rudler, which we had the pleasure of hearing. There are four plates. 

 The next Annual Congress will be held at Bournemouth in June, 1914, 

 when we hope to hear a great deal about the Natural History of 

 Hampshire and Dorset. 



In 1911, the late Mr, G. H. Verrall, the well-known entomologist, 

 bequeathed to the National Trust his property in Wicken Sedge Fea 

 and St. Edmund's Pen, amounting to nearly 240 acres. These places 

 are about the last remaining portions of the great undrained and un- 

 cultivated fens of the Eastern counties. They lie about seven miles 

 South-east of Ely, and about 3^ miles west of Soham in Cambridge- 

 shire. 



A considerable sum — amounting to over £300 — was payable as 

 estate duty on the gift, but owing to the generosity ot an anonymous 

 donor, the Trust was enabled to accept the bequest. 



The Fen cannot, however, be preserved in its natural condition 

 without a considerable annual expenditure — an expenditure in excess 

 of any sum which the Trust is able, having regard to other claims 

 upon its funds, to devote to the purpose ; and it has been decided that 

 in order to deal with Mr. Verrall's bequest as he would have wished, 

 an endeavour should be made to raise an adequate endowment fund. 



The Trust is in no way desirous of restricting access for genuine 

 naturalists, but it is anxious, as far as possible, to prevent over- 

 collecting, and the exploitation of the Fen for commercial purposes. 

 It is felt that the employment of a permanent watcher may go far 

 towards the attainment of what all true nature lovers will desire, viz., 

 the preservation of the wild life of the Fen. A permanent watcher 

 would be able to do something to check the indiscriminate "collecting" 

 done by unscrupulous persons, which has gone far towards exterminating 

 the rarer plants, butterflies, and moths. 



To the zoologist the Fen has long been known as the home of rare 

 Butterflies and Moths ; of the former, L'apilio machaon is the best 

 known, but the Fen abounds in other species peculiar to marshy lands. 



Subscriptions may be sent to The Secretary of the National Trust 

 (S. H. Hamer, Esq.), 25, Victoria Street, S.W. 



Mr. R. S. Bagnall, F.L.S., F.E.S,, continues to work steadily at 

 the study of the Thysanoptera and the other Orders of more or less 

 obscure and little-known insects, which he so enthusiastically began 

 some years ago. We have received copies of several articles written 

 by him recently. " Brief Descriptions of New Thysanoptera," Ann. <.(■ 

 Maif. X. I J., September, 1913, various Thrips from Africa and India. 

 "The Scottish Xiimi'lnjla,'' Scot. Xat., August, 1913, seven of the four- 



