1914.] 179 



of the insects and other Arthropods enumerated is not forgotten, the general 

 classification of the different Orders being founded almost entirely on external 

 structure. Bionomics, breeding habits, laboratory manipulation, methods of 

 dissection, &c, are all discussed in turn, the Chapter (II) on the anatomy of 

 Diptera serving as an introduction to insect morphology generally. Of the 

 89 plates, 52 are devoted to Diptera, 6 to Siphonaptera, 7 to Bhynchota, 6 to 

 Anoplura, 15 to Ixodidas, 2 to Acari, and 1 to Pentastomida. The Manual 

 supplies, we are sure, a vast deal of information of the greatest use to dwellers 

 in hot countries, where insect plagues abound. Residents on the plains of India 

 may be pleased to note (c/. pp. 448, 449) , that the pest known as the Jigger-flea, 

 Dermatophilus (Sarcopsylla) penetrans, L., which has been introduced into 

 Bombay and Karachi with infected sailors, has not yet succeeded in gaining a 

 footing. Travellers wishing to take a copy of the " Manual " with them may 

 perhaps object to the bulk and weight of the book, but a lighter paper could 

 hardly have been used for the text or plates. Its price is 21/-. 



"Common British Beetles," by the Rev. Chas. A. Hall, F.R.M.S. 

 " Peeps at Nature " series. With 16 plates, 8 coloured. London : Adam and 

 Charles Black. 1914. 



We have the pleasure of noticing yet another of the excellent little volumes 

 of the " Peeps at Nature " series, the work now under consideration treating of 

 the British Coleoptera. It is obvious that in the 88 pages of which the book 

 consists, so extensive a subject as that of our native beetles can be dealt with 

 only in the barest outline ; but the author has succeeded in condensing a large 

 amount of useful and interesting information respecting the Order in this 

 small compass, aided by some excellent text figures and half-tone plates devoted 

 mainly to structural detail. We could have wished, however, that in a work 

 intended primarily for the beginner in the study of Coleoptera, a little more 

 space had been allotted to the important details of collecting and preserving, 

 the chapter devoted to this subject being decidedly " sketchy." The eight 

 " three-colour " plates, comprising figures of nearly 150 species, are very good 

 and clear, especially those made from drawings by Mr. C. F. Newall ; the two 

 plates made direct from the specimens are not quite so satisfactory, as beetles do 

 not lend themselves nearly so well as Lepidoptera to this method of illustration. 

 On the whole, this little book forms a very useful introduction to the study of 

 our beetle fauna, and fully sustains the high standard of excellence of the 

 " Peeps at Nature " series. 



Societies. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society: Meeting held at 

 the Royal Institution, Colquit Street, Liverpool, March 16th, 1914.— Mr. R. 

 Wilding, President, in the Chair. 



Professor Robert Newstead, M.Sc, F.R.S., gave a lecture entitled " Some 

 Observations on the Natural History of Nyasaland." The lecture, which dealt 



P 2 



