1002.] 41 



original form. Lot them do so by al) means. The translation with slight excep- 

 tion has been admirably done, but, as Dr. Sharp observes, Fabrc is " the most Gallic 

 of Frenchmen," and about as difficult to translate into a foreign language as are the 

 works of one or two popular English writers on quite other subjects. The editing 

 has been carefully done, and the illustrations are appropriate. To those who are 

 quite strangers to the work we may say that this first vol. (and also many of the 

 succeeding) is largely taken up with the habits of Hymenopterous insects in the 

 most marvellously graphic form in every minute detail. But thei'e is much about 

 beetles, and the very first chapter is an amusing one on the " sacred " beetles. For 

 more general subjects we call special attention to the " Ascent of Mont A T entoux " 

 as a record of a bit of mountain climbing and adventure, and also to the amusing 

 episode (pp. 272—273) on the way in which elementary physics were taught in the 

 minor French colleges (were we much better here ?) in former times. This is 

 not a book to be read through and then placed on the library shelf and forgotten. 

 It is one to lie on the work-table, to be taken up and read by snatches over and 

 over again, till one has practically learnt it by heart. — R. McL. 



ttuarn. 



Charles Lionel Augustus de Niceville, State Entomologist for India, C.M.Z.S., 

 F.E.S., &c., died at Calcutta, after a few days' illness of malarial fever, on December 

 3rd, 1901, aged 49. We are not acquainted with his early history, but he is said 

 to have gone to India about 1870. For many years he held a clerkship in a 

 Government office in Calcutta, but the whole of his spare time was devoted to 

 Entomology, and until quite recently almost entirely to Rhopalocera, commencing 

 so long as 1881. His publications were very numerous, and sometimes in con- 

 junction with others, such as Mr. Elwes, Mr. Taylor, Prof. Wood-Mason, Dr. Martin, 

 and Major Marshall. With the latter he brought out "The Butterflies of India, 

 Burmah and Ceylon," an important work in 3 vols, but incomplete, published at 

 Calcutta from 1882 to 1890. We believe Mr. de Niceville contemplated leaving India 

 in a few months and settling in this country. His fine collection of Eastern 

 Butterflies has been acquired by the Indian Museum. 



Societies. 



Birmingham Entomological Society: November 18^,1901. — Mr. A. H. 

 Martineaf, in the Chair. 



Dr. Stacey Wilson, Wyddrington, Edgbaston ; and Mr. E. A. L. Verecroft, 

 Coventry ; were elected Members of the Society. 



Mr. Colbran J. Wainwright showed the Tachinid Brachychtrta spinigera, Rond., 

 from near Hampton-in-Arden, and said that this was the species which had been 

 described by Meade as Desvoidin fusca, and not Staurochceta gracilis, Egg., as 

 supposed by Brauer and von Berganstamm. 



Mr. G. W. Wynn showed a number of Lepidoptera taken by himself in South 

 Devonshire during the last week of August and first of September this year ; 

 amongst others were Lithosia cnniola, Hb., three worn specimens ; Leueania albi- 

 pio/cta, F., one only ; Caradrina exigua, Hb.,two specimens ; C. ambigua, F.,a nice 



