99 (Jaiiuury. 



pages ; and then, according to the system adopted, come the Aptera, Orthoptera, 

 Neuroptera, and part of the Hymenoptera. And we regard this first part with the 

 greatest satisfaction, because it is too often the practice in works of this kind for the 

 author to unduly enlarge upon the Order or Orders he may have specially studied 

 to the detriment or practical wiping out of the rest. The Orders just mentioned 

 are treated on at such length as to leave doubts in our mind as to how those that 

 remain are to be got into a second volume, to which the author is limited. As an 

 example, we need only allude to the Family Termitidae, which occupy nearly 35 

 pages, forming probably the most complete concise account of these wondrous 

 creatures that now exists, largely drawn up from the recent researches of Grassi, and 

 of Dr. Haviland, the latter the more valuable because they remain otherwise 

 unpublished. We could multiply similar instances ; in fact there is scarcely any 

 salient feature that is not alluded to, and the text in each case is almost always 

 emphasized by a suitable illustration. We venture to think the work will be found 

 indispensable to all who seek to extend their general knowledge beyond the narrowing 

 influence of exclusive attention to certain Orders or Groups, and that it will take 

 a high position in " The Cambridge Natural History " series. 



The first 80 pages of the Vol. do not concern true insects, but are occupied by 

 what amounts to a monograph of that singular genus Peripatus, by Adam Sedgwick, 

 M.A., F.R.S., and an account of the Myriapods, by F. G. Sinclair, M.A. — R. McL. 



Societies. 



The South London Entomological and Natural IIistoet Society 

 November \Uh, 1895.— T. W. Hall, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Grifiith, of Bristol, was elected a Member. 



Mr. Briggs exhibited a living specimen of the Madeira Cockroach, Panchlora 

 maderce, taken in Covent Garden market. Mr. Edwards, specimens of the rare 

 Morphos, M. cacica and M. Neoptolemus, from Peru. Mr. R. Adkin, a series of 

 Emmelesia tceniata, St., from Co. Kerry, lighter than the English form, and a 

 specimen of Arctia Caja, L., from Louth, with very intense black-brown markings. 

 Mr. H. W. Williams, a bred series of Oporabia dilutaria, Bork., including two very 

 dark uniform specimens and one with a light marginal area. Mr. McArthur, living 

 larvae and a recently emerged imago of Triphana comes, Hb., var. Curtisii, Newm., 

 from Orkney, and said that all the captured ones were of that form. Mr. Turner, 

 a specimen of Phorodesma smaragdaria, Fb., unique in being bred on Sept. 26th, 

 and several varieties of Vanessa urticcB, L., one of which had the central spots 

 reduced to minute dots. Mr. Mansbridge, a series of Scoparia basistrigalis, Knaggs, 

 taken at sugar in Epping Forest. Mr. Sturt, a living larva of Sphinx convolvuli, L., 

 from Cornwall, with drawings of the others he had had. It was noted that one 

 specimen was of the rare striped form of the larva. A discussion took place as to 

 the necessity of forcing the pupee of the larger hawk-moths. Mr. South, a short 

 bred series of Acronycta menyanthidis, View., from Macclesfield, and stated that the 

 larvae much preferred sallow as food although a few fed on birch. Mr. Ashdown, 

 a number of Lepidoptera, including a strange var. of Melanippe sociata, Bork., having 



