REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS, lOl 



and classification (of the Orders) is discussed in 9 pp. The classification 

 adopted ia a simple one, and the reasons for adopting it in such 

 a work in preference to more elaborate ones appears to be, on 

 the whole, satisfactory, something of the nature and value of other 

 systems being indicated. Nine orders are given, which include 

 Aptera ( TJii/sanura) and Thi/mnoptera, as well as the traditional seven. 

 Though alluded to, we think the fact that Aptera are hardly insects, 

 in much the same sense that Skippers are hardly butterflies, is not made 

 sufficiently clear ; -whilst TJn/mnrptera might have been merged in 

 Remiptcra, almost as well as some of the other minor orders are 

 merged in the rest. The chief aim of the book appears to be to give 

 an account of all the families, and, when sufficiently important, of the 

 sub-families ; and so far as we are able to judge a very sound discretion 

 has been exercised as to the amount of space allotted to the several 

 families, in accordance with their interest and importance. No doubt 

 one would like a fuller account, and a notice of more species not un- 

 frequently ; but this, like most of the other faults we could find, might 

 be classified under the head of wishing the volume were twice as long. 

 When not giving directly his own material, the author appears to 

 have followed thoroughly trustworthy authorities, and if he has made 

 any serious mistakes and oversights, they are in connection with sub- 

 jects of which we do not pretend to be encyclopaedic enough to happen 

 to be familiar. So far as we have tested the book in subjects with 

 which we are more or less competent to deal, the matter appears to be 

 not only accurate, but well selected to convey what is required, without 

 going into unnecessary detail. The figures, with hardly an exception, 

 are really good ; in many cases they are original, in others good 

 authorities at first hand. They number nearly 400. In other 

 respects — type, paper, &c, — the book is -well got up. It is a work that 

 we can recommend without reserve, either to the specialist who may 

 wish to know something of other groups than his favourite one, or to 

 the general student who wishes to obtain a clear knowledge of the 

 insect world. And if the next volume equals the present we may con- 

 gratulate ourselves on an important gap in English entomological 

 literature beiu"- tilled. 



SOCIETIES. 



The Entomological Society of London met on December 4th, 

 1895. Mr. G. T. Porritt exhibited an example of HaJesus gattatipjennis, 

 taken at Lye, Worcestershire, in November, 1889. It was believed 

 to be the third British example. Mr. Porritt also exhibited a series of 

 Naenia tijpica, showing a curious malformation in all the specimens. 

 He stated that about one-third of a large brood had emerged in 

 exactly the same form, having the wings only half developed in point 

 of length, but being almost normal as to width ; the markings, how- 

 ever, were clearly defined. Mr. Tutt and Mr. McLachlan referred 

 respectively to similar malformations in Agrotis tritici and Hadena 

 trifolii (chenopodii), Mr. Tutt further remarking that Mr. Percy Russ, of 

 Sligo, on one occasion bred or captured a number of Agrotis cursoria 

 exhibiting a parallel malformation. Mr. Goss read a communica- 

 tion from Mr, Sidney Crompton, of Salamanca, Tenerife, an- 

 nouncing the capture there, by Mr. Hammerton, of two 

 specimens of Diadema misippus, a species of butterfly not 

 previously recorded from Tenerife. Mr. Crompton said the 



