NOTICES ANI> REVIEWS. 277 



Dianthoecia carpophaga, a conclusion for which there is no proof yet 

 forthcoming. The collectors who raged when oculea, Gn. was changed 

 to didi/ma, Esp., will })e interested to learn that this species is here 

 called secnlis, Bjerk ; PInsia pnlchrina has a variety perrontntn'x, 

 Auriv., of which we do not remember to have heard before, whilst 

 Toxocampa is dropped for Ophinsa. Among the Geometr.-k, Acidah'a 

 fumata gets in addition to var. s/'inplnria. Frr., a new vai'iety pcrfnmata 

 described as " Obscurior, alis omnibus squamis fuscis densius immixtis, 

 fusco-grisescentibus.'" lionnnia rinctaria A'^ar. macnlata is another 

 newly described form, whilst Kncosniia imdnlata has a variety xnhfasriata 

 described as " Alis anticis fascia media obscuriore." A new variety of 

 Cidaria (Melanippe) fiuctnata is described as incanata — " Obscvirior, alis 

 anticis canescentibus, fascia media usc^ue ad marginem inferiorem 

 distincte extensa." This banded form, we believe, has been before 

 described as var. virgata, but cannot place our hands on the description. 

 Numbers of varieties of common species occurring in the west of 

 Ireland and Scotland have been described and are referred to here, 

 although their names are strange to British eyes and ears. We are 

 rather of opinion that Hoffmann's dark var. pyhcevaarce of Acronycta 

 anricoma will have to sink under the name of pepli (British NocfiKe and 

 their Vnrieiies, vol. i., p. 23) ; whilst a var. phantoma of Cernra i:invla is 

 interesting. It is we think greatly to be regretted that the author 

 has not made himself acquainted with the works of British entomologists. 

 The book shows a very good knowledge of the up-to-date work of 

 German writers, but an almost complete ignorance of that of our own 

 countrymen. It would perhaps be too much to expect familiarity with 

 the stores of entomological knowledge contained (we had almost said 

 entombed) in our magazines, but an author dealing systematically with 

 fauna having such close affinity with that of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 ought at least to have studied Barrett's Lepidoptern of the British 

 Islands, and Tutt's British Noctiuv and their Varieties. This attitude of 

 contempt towards British workers, of which Staudinger's Catalog is 

 such a conspicuous example, may be a just punishment for our own 

 insularity, but it is not scientiiic. It is, moreover, in marked contrast 

 with the state of things that obtained in the earlier days of 

 entomological literature. Linne makes constant reference to the works 

 of Ray, Petiver and Wilkes, the only British writers in his day, 

 although it must be confessed that his references are not infrequently 

 misleading. Geoffrey, Esper, Borkhausen and Fabricius also thought 

 the works of these writers not unworthy of study, and Ochsenheimer 

 added Lewin to the list. Notwithstanding this, as we think, serious 

 blemish, however, the little work is well worthy of the attention of 

 students of Scotch and Irish Lepidoptera, and should be obtained by 

 our Societies. Its price is not stated on our copy, but a note to the 

 author, Enzio Renter, Helsin(;fors, Fredriksgaten 45, Finland, should 

 be sufficient to produce the information. — F. J. B. 



goCIETIES. 



The Entomological Society of London resumed its meetings after 

 the summer recess on October 3rd. Mr. W. F. H. Blandford exhibited 

 specimens of a sand-flea, chigoe or nigua, received from Mr. Szigetvjiry, 

 of the Imperial Maritime Customs, ('hina, who had found them in the 

 ears of sewer-rats trajiped at Ningpo. Mr. Blandford stated that the 



