1892.] 269 



of wliat is practically an elementary hand-book of Entomology. In the eyes of the 

 majority (not all) of British Lepidopterists it will seem to have one great defect : 

 the author (like most Americans) abjures the use. ot short pins, the adoption of 

 which is so deeply rooted in this country that nothing short of being "sent to 

 Coventry " can be said to await the unhappy individual who has the courage to 

 dissent from the practice. But British Entomologists will find very much to instruct 

 them in these " Directions ;" and some contrivances explained of which the majority 

 of them are ignorant, all rendered the more simple, inasmuch as to almost every 

 matter of interest there is an excellent accompanying illustration. Some of these 

 points are original, or American ideas, others again have been in force on the Conti- 

 nent of Europe for very many years, but are little known here. One of these is the 

 " fumigator," a simple apparatus for driving insects out of dense places of conceal- 

 ment. Another, which we have always been surprised to find so little known here, 

 is the "umbrella" (not the umbrella net, but a, jointed modification of the real 

 article, and which can be used as such), a most excellent apparatus for beating 

 purposes, and suitable for all insects, excepting those unusually active on the wing. 



On the other hand we think that scarcely sufficient notice has been taken of the 

 methods of collecting in use amongst British Entomologists, and especially Lepi- 

 dopterists, and the perusal of some practical book, such as Knaggs' Lepidopterist's 

 Guide, will supply American Entomologists with a host of hints on matters not 

 treated upon here, or just barely alluded to. But in America, as everywhere else, 

 the main point to be gained is experience. 



The details upon Museum work are admirable, and afford useful information on 

 many points concerning the preservation of soft-bodied insects in alcohol, &c. The 

 production of a highly illustrated collector's manual like this is, at present, practi- 

 cally possible only in the States, for it is the outcome of the expenditure of public, 

 or semi-public, money. Just fancy the astonishment of a British Chancellor of the 

 Exchequer at being asked to provide funds for a book on the collection and pre- 

 servation of insects ! 



The work ends with a list of " recommended " books and periodicals, &o., on 

 Entomology. In perusing the List of Foreign Periodicals, we fancy our German 

 friends will be as much surprised as ourselves on finding it indicated that the 

 " Berliner entomologische Zeitschrift " and " Stettiner entomologische Zeitung " 

 have been " discontinued." 



BiEMiNGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY: September 12th, 1892. — Mr. G. 

 n. Kenrick, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The following were exhibited : — By Mr. ISTcvillc Chamberlain, a box of Lepi- 

 doptera, which he had recently collected in Inverness-shire ; by Mr. P. W. Abbott, 

 a long series of Colias Edusa from Freshwater, Isle of Wight, including half a dozen 

 Helice, and one specimen intermediate ; by Mr. W. Harrison, two specimens of 

 Colias Edusa from Trench Woods, also larvse of Sphinx ligustri from the same 

 place ; by Mr. R. C. Bradley, Zygcena trifolii, var. confluens^ and one specimen of 

 Emmelesia fceniata, both from Barmouth ; by Mr. G. H. Kenrick, Plusia hractea 



