46 t'^"'-^. 



is a good figure of the apex of the tibia in Dr. Schmiedeknechts' " Apidfe Europsese," 

 ph iii, fig. 8. I have several specimens of hlfida, but unfortunately luost of them 

 have no note as to locality. A few males, however, have the locality Canterbury 

 upon them, and I hear from Mr. Bridgman that he has specimens taken near 

 Norwich ; oi (/uttulata I have only a single female, also without note of locality. It 

 much resembles ochrostoma but is smaller and rather shorter, and the spines of the 

 tibite are very different. I think, if Hymenopterists would direct their attention to 

 this genus, we should probably further increase our list of species, as in many cases 

 the distinguishing characters, though well defined, require careful searching for. 

 Collectors would, therefore, do well to bring home all the specimens they see, as it 

 is nearly impossible in the field to know for certain what species is under notice. ^ — • 

 Edward Saundees, Holmesdale, Upper Tooting : Wth June, 1882. 



A Marine Caddis-fly. — Since the announcement published in Yol. xviii, p. 278, 

 of this Magazine, I have I'eceived the materials forwarded by Prof. Hutton. These 

 consist of a cylindrical, straight, tubular, moveable case, formed of coralline sea-weed, 

 and a slide, on which is a larva (badly crushed), and the fragments of a pupa, from 

 which the perfect insect was ready to emerge {not, as Prof. Hutton thought, the 

 perfect insect itself). From the maxillary palpi I can identify it as being that 

 of a 1^ of Philanisus plebejus. Walker ( = Anomalostoma alloneura, Brauer), 

 already known from New Zealand. According to the case, Philanisus should 

 probably form an anomalous genus of Leptoceridm. Full details, with figuresj 

 will shortly appear in the Journal of the Linnean Society. 



The Helicopsyche, so far as can be judged, appears to be congeneric with the 

 forms that have been bred in Europe and in North and South America. There are 

 cases with larva; and pupa;, and two ^ pupa; emerged from their cases, but not 

 transformed into perfect insects. — E. McLachlan, Lewisham, London : 2rd June, 

 1882. 



The Student's List of British Coleoptera ; with Synoptic Tables of Fa- 

 milies and Genera. Compiled by Feaxcis P. Pascoe. Pp. i — viii and 1 — 120, 

 small 8vo. London : Taylor and Francis, 1882. 



The author modestly styles this little book a " compilation." Every Catalogue 

 or List must of necessity be a compilation. But there are compilations and compi- 

 lations. A clever compiler, with no knowledge whatever of the subject, may produce 

 a very useful work, and sometimes more so than comes from the pen of one full to 

 the brim with special knowledge, and also with opinions of his own. Possibly the 

 best compilations are those made by writers who may be el'isi^ed between tlu-se two 

 extremes. Such a writer we consider Mr. Pascoe, so far as British Coleoptera are 

 concerned. The " Student's List " cannot fail to be useful to all British Coleopterists, 

 and its price places it within the reach of all. The ascending scale is adopted, 

 therefore, it commences with the Coccinellidce and ends with Cicindela. The old 

 great divisions are retained. The tables for families and genera appear to be gene- 

 rally accurate, and form a novel feature that ought to prove useful to all who have 

 acquired the rudiments of knowledge. Probably ei-rors both of omission and com- 

 mission may reward the labours of a critical investigator ; we fancy that all sucli 



