KETROSPECT OP A T.EPlDOPTERlST. 11 



aJchi/mista, and this soon happily dissipated itself. <SV.s/a connpiformis has 

 been recordi'd as new to the British list, but as no one has yet veriiied 

 the insect, its inclusion is perhaps as yet premature, whilst Xanthia 

 flceUaris, has been added to the British list, on tlie strength of specimens 

 captured the previous autumn and referred to this species. These few 

 notes I think cover the chief points in our collecting season of 1894, so 

 far as it concerns Macro-lepidoptera, a scanty and meagre account enough 

 it must be confessed. 



Among the smaller species but little is left to chronicle. The capture 

 by Mr. Durrant of large numbers of Steganoptycha pygmaeana, and the 

 regularity with which S. subsequana is now taken, are subjects for con- 

 gratulation, and Stigmonotn dorsana was again captured in the Braemar 

 district ; but, contrary to what used to be the case when the Macro men were 

 so char}'^ of recording, because of the possibility of their localities being 

 visited by unwelcome strangers, and the exchange value thus ruthlessly 

 let down, it is the Micro collectors now who have least to say about the 

 work they do, and who hide their lights unnecessarily under a bushel. 

 The addition of Cataplectica farreni to the British fauna has been re- 

 cently alluded to in our pages, and Dr. Wood has kept up his reputation 

 among the Nepticulae by describing a new s^^ecies, mining in the leaves 

 of birch which comes " painfully " near iV. lapponica. This new species 

 has been named coiifuselhi, a very happy term it would appear, and 

 representing I do not doubt what must have been Dr Wood's, and will 

 be many another lepidopterist's condition of mind, before he can 

 hope successfully to separate it from its ally lapponica. 



Let us now glance for a moment from the collectors and their 

 collecting to the places where they most do congregate. The 

 Entomological Society of London has been a little disturbed, owing to 

 the meeting nights. It has been suggested that one meeting per month 

 for ten months in the year is sufficient for the Fellows, but this does 

 not find much favour among the most regular attendants. One feels, 

 however, that some regularity of the meeting nights should be 

 attem})ted ; continiial recourse to a card is not always convenient. A fair 

 number of new Fellows have been enrolled, but not so many as the 

 large number of provincial workers would Avarrant. We have now a 

 much larger number of entomologists spread over the country than 

 liitlicrto, and to many of these the subscription offers no ])ar, and we cannot 

 help feeling tliat the many, wlio would help scientific entomology if 

 tliey could, have as yet failed to understand that inci-eased subscriptions 

 mean increased bulk in the Trdusdrtionii and better plates. For tlie 

 same reason, the City of London and Soutli London Entomological 

 Societies appeal to provincial entomologists. These are centres of 

 active scientific work, and one is grieved to see entomologists holding 

 aloof from membersliip because they cannot attend the meetings. The 

 Transactions have to be printed, and it is hard that the entomological 

 public who directly or indirectly benefit by such societies should coolly 

 ign(n-e their general utility. Any provincial entomologist who, at any 

 time will write to me or to the various secretaries about details of 

 memberslii}), will, at any rate, be sure of courteous attention. The 

 City of London Entomological Society under the genial Presidency of 

 Mr. J. A. ('lark, has made for it.self a very solid position in the 

 entomological world. The tendency there to draw out and encourage 

 the younger members has been crowned with success, and the able 



